Ziyi Shi

Ziyi Shi, 22, was sentenced to six years imprisonment at the High Court in Edinburgh following his conviction for three crimes of rape, abusive behaviour towards a victim, and breaching an undertaking not to contact her. In addition to the custodial sentence, Judge Thomas Welsh placed Shi on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

The court heard that the offences occurred in Edinburgh between September 2022 and January 2024. Shi's abusive behaviour included making derogatory comments, criticising the victim's appearance, and forcing her to complete his university assignments. The rape offences involved physical violence, including choking and slapping the victim, and instances where the victim was asleep and incapable of consenting. Shi had denied the charges at trial, maintaining that the sexual activity was consensual.

In passing sentence, Judge Welsh noted that while Shi was a first offender with mental health issues, the gravity of the offences made a custodial sentence inevitable. The court acknowledged that Shi is likely to be deported upon the completion of his sentence.