Man jailed after 'sleeping rape'

The court heard Byars had shown remorse for his crime

A man who raped a sleeping barmaid in Aberdeen has been jailed for four years.

Craig Byars had sex with the 22-year-old - who had been working long hours and had taken medication - after she fell asleep following a film.

When the woman woke up afterwards she realised something was wrong.

Chef Byars, 34, who admitted the 2007 rape at his flat in Aberdeen's Great Southern Road, was jailed at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Defence counsel Shahid Latif said Byars apologised for the consequences of his actions on the victim.

He said: "I have to stress that what happened was a gross error of judgement on his part. He misread the situation."

Lord Brailsford told Byars that he had admitted "a very serious matter" but had shown remorse and had saved the victim giving evidence by pleading guilty.