A “deviant” who pounced on a drunk girl in a Dundee alleyway intent on raping her has been given an extended prison sentence.
The terrified woman screamed as Gabrial Tsvetanov, 32, repeatedly pulled at and groped her during the early morning incident in the city centre.
Jurors at Dundee Sheriff Court heard how Tsvetanov drank a litre of vodka before carrying out his attack, which came less than a fortnight after he performed a public sex act on Union Street in front of two hairdressers.
In October 2023, Tsvetanov was placed on the sex offenders register for three years after admitting photographing women without their consent.
Reference was made at last week’s sentencing diet to a social work report in which Bulgarian national Tsvetanov himself expressed concerns “for a number of years” about his “deviant sexual interests”.
Solicitor advocate Brian Bell said his client was also assessed as a “high-risk” of reoffending.
“It is his intention to remain in the UK.
“It’s likely he would seek similar employment. The accused accepts the charge merits a custodial sentence.
“I note that the accused still denies his involvement.”
‘Danger to the public’
Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith told the offender, formerly a chef at Tony Macaroni: “You approached a vulnerable young girl.
“She was vulnerable because she was in a state of intoxication and having perpetrated the acts set out in the charge, you remarked words similar to ‘I’m going to f*** you’.
“The jury seemed to have little hesitation taking all of the factors together that you intended to assault her with the intention in your mind to rape her.
“I am in no doubt that the crime of which the jury convicted you is of such gravity that custody would be the normal disposal.
“I am satisfied that you are a potential danger to the public.”
Terrified victim’s evidence
It was revealed in evidence the woman and her friend were under the influence of alcohol, having been drinking in the city centre earlier in the night.
She initially believed Tsvetanov was someone she knew but said she was “mostly screaming” as she “tried to swipe his hand away”.
Tsvetanov continued his attack while the woman’s friend told him to “f*** off”.
The woman, who cannot be named, said in her evidence: “I thought he was going to pull me down an alleyway and rape me.”
Fiscal depute Joanne Ritchie said in her speech to jurors: “I would invite you to reject the accused’s position that all he did was hug and touch her bottom.
“The Crown submit that this was and escalation of behaviour from August 3 2021 where in the early hours of August 16 2021, the accused has become bolder and more aggressive.
“He has come across the complainer, a woman on a night out with friends minding her own business when in a vulnerable state of intoxication down an alleyway, and he approached her aggressively like a predator.”
Sentencing
The jury found Tsvetanov guilty by a majority verdict of sexually assaulting the woman with the intent of raping her on August 16 2021 within an alleyway outside Mecca Bingo’s customer car park at Yeaman Shore.
On August 3 2021, Tsvetanov committed an act of public indecency by exposing himself and performing a sex act.
He was sentenced to an extended sentence comprising of two years in custody and two years of supervision.
He will serve a consecutive 12 months in prison for the public indecency offence and is on the sex offenders register for 10 years.
For more local court content visit our page or join us on Facebook.
