Man found guilty of trying to rape woman on flight to Edinburgh

A man has been found guilty of attempting to rape a Scottish woman on an Easyjet flight.

Nicola Cristiano, 45, from Italy, moved seats to sit next to the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, during an overnight journey from Naples to Edinburgh on May 13.

After offering wine to the woman, who the court heard was born in 1993 and from Aberdeenshire, he tried to force her hand towards her exposed crotch.

Judge Alison Stirling remanded Cristiano into custody and ordered background reports to be prepared ahead of sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh on February 6.

Earlier, the High Court in Edinburgh heard evidence from a fellow passenger and a cabin crew member.

Forensic evidence also showed that a trace of Cristiano’s semen was found on the victim’s cheek.

He claimed the woman initially consented but later changed her mind.

However, the jury found him guilty by a majority verdict.

The prosecution said everything happened without consent and this was corroborated by a witness sitting in the back row.

The court heard Cristiano then signaled the woman to go to the toilet with him.

He said that he said he would follow him to the cabin, but when the defendant entered the cabin, he took the opportunity to tell the cabin crew what had happened to him. They then prevented him from leaving the toilet.

A member of the cabin crew said the woman became visibly uncomfortable when she said she had been sexually assaulted.

Cristiano admitted in evidence that he had sexual intercourse with the woman.

“It turned me on. It excited me,” he said.

The judge told the jury: “This trial was a difficult and worrying case.”

He said that after the not proven verdict was abolished in the Scottish legal system, the jury was one of the first to make a decision under the changed system.

“I think you’re helping to make history because today is the first day we’re making decisions under our new system.”