Man jailed after raping teenager he groomed on Snapchat

A man who raped a 14-year-old girl after locking her in his Glasgow flat has been jailed for 10 years.

Scott Ijomanta carried out the attack in Maryhill in August 2024 while on bail for trying to lure two other youngsters he had groomed online to his home.

The 38-year-old - who pretended to be a 12-year-old on social media while looking for victims - gave the teenager his address and offered to pay for her taxi.

But once she was inside the property he kept the key on him.

Ijomanta was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow of abduction, assault and rape as well as sending sexual communications to a child.

Judge Tom Hughes said his crimes were "totally and utterly unacceptable" and "could never be tolerated".

Hughes told the court that Ijomanta, who refused to stand up in the dock while being sentenced, put the children in a "very difficult situation".

He added: "I can only hope, in due course, that they will be able to move on with their lives and put all this behind them."

The court heard how the 14-year-old had agreed to meet after she had been in contact with Ijomanta on Snapchat.

She had disclosed her age, but he initially pretended he was much younger and that his name was Joseph.

After travelling to the flat and being locked inside, he offered the girl a bar of chocolate and a drink that was thought to have been alcohol.

The court heard how "things changed" when Ijomanta flew into a rage, claiming the girl had stolen his phone and glasses.

He then attacked her.

She recalled how the attacker told her: "I am going to rape you. I am sorry for the things that I am going to make you do."

Ijomanta also lied that he had cancer, and told her she could go to the police as he "did not have long to live anyway".

He slapped her after she pleaded for mercy and hit her again when she began to cry.

Ijomanta put his hand over her mouth to stop her cries for help. He also grabbed her by the neck.

The girl told how he had asked: "Why would you come to my house if you did not expect this to happen? I do not know why you are acting so shocked."

She said that he had said that he could see that she was "terrified" but that just "makes me want to kill you."

Ijomanta warned her that if she screamed "any louder" the neighbours would hear, that that would "put me into bother."

After the attack he threatened to turn up at her school and threatened her parents.

The girl eventually managed to escape.

The teenager initially told her father she had been chased in the street.

He said: "It did not feel right. I was not quite sure what was going on, but I did not want to push."

After the victim hardly touched her dinner, the man told his daughter that "no matter what happened", he was not "going to be angry".

She then revealed her ordeal.

The father described his daughter as "worried, concerned, absolutely devastated".

He said: "There was no spark of life. She was not animated in any way. I held her hand and told her it was not her fault."

Jurors heard the girl recall the ordeal in pre-recorded testimony and police interviews.

Prosecutor Chris McKenna said: "I suggest her evidence was a compelling, unvarnished account of a 14-year-old girl simply telling you what happened."

The trial also heard how Ijomanta had already preyed on two other children online in 2023.

He had initially been in contact with a 12-year-old girl on Snapchat and TikTok using the name "Hunter".

Ijomanta demanded photos, videos and made disgusting comments about the youngster and a 13-year-old friend.

The court heard he went on to book two child train tickets for the pair to come to Glasgow, but the police found them before they boarded after they were reported missing.

In court, Ijomanta denied the crimes, insisting he had effectively been duped about all the girls' ages.

The rapist will be monitored for a further four years on his release.

He will also be on the sex offenders list and banned from going near the victims - both for an indefinite period.

Det Con Joe Gear said: "I want to thank the girls who assisted our investigation, their support was instrumental in bringing him to justice.

"Ijomanta's actions were deeply reprehensible, and he will now face the consequences."