‘Depraved’ Attacker Targeted Strangers in Five-Week Crime Spree
A Romanian national has been handed a significant prison sentence for a series of violent sexual attacks against women in Glasgow, including a 40-minute rape in a city centre alleyway. Mihai-Nicolae Patran, 34, was described by a judge as a "real danger to women" following his trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
A Harrowing Ordeal and Subsequent Arrests
The court heard how Patran's offending escalated over a five-week period in late 2023. His most severe crime occurred in the early hours of 26 November 2023, when he preyed on a 29-year-old doctor as she took a shortcut through Mitchell Street. Judge Norman McFadyen described the subsequent rape as a "demeaning and squalid" attack that lasted for 40 minutes.
The victim, who did not know her attacker, eventually managed to escape from the alley doorway, fleeing naked from the waist down to find safety.
Patran had previously been arrested for exposing himself to a 19-year-old woman on a train travelling between Perth and Stirling on 22 October 2023. Shockingly, while facing that initial charge at Glasgow Sheriff Court, he went on to sexually assault a security staff member.
Justice Served: A 12-Year Extended Sentence
Last month, Patran was found guilty of sexual exposure, rape, and sexual assault following a trial. Upon his return to the dock on Monday, 10 November 2025, he was handed a 12-year extended sentence. This comprises nine years in custody followed by a further three years on licence once he is released back into the community.
In addition to the prison term, Patran was placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely. Judge McFadyen also expressed hope that Patran would be deported to Romania or removed from the UK "at the earliest opportunity".
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) built a compelling case against Patran by using a variety of evidence, including:
- CCTV footage from the locations
- Mobile phone evidence
- DNA analysis
- Witness accounts from the victims
Faye Cook, the procurator fiscal for high court sexual offences, commended the victims for their bravery, stating the conviction would not have been possible without them. She emphasised that while "this type of stranger offending is rare, it will not be tolerated."
