A rapist who attacked a 14-year-old girl while on bail for grooming offences has been sentenced to ten years in prison. Scott Ijomanta subjected his victim to a horrific ordeal at his flat in Glasgow.
The Attack
The 38-year-old, who lied about his age on Snapchat, told the terrified teenager: 'I can see that you are terrified – it just makes me want to kill you.' The girl eventually managed to escape from the locked flat, badly hurt, and returned home.
Ijomanta's offending occurred a year after he purchased train tickets for two girls aged 12 and 13 to travel from England to Glasgow, but police intervened before they could meet him.
Court Proceedings
At the High Court in Glasgow, Ijomanta was convicted of abduction, assault, rape, and sending sexual communications to a child. He refused to stand in the dock during sentencing by Judge Tom Hughes.
The judge stated: 'You have been convicted of the rape of a 14-year-old child and sending sexual communications to children, buying them tickets to encourage them to Scotland. This type of offending is totally and utterly unacceptable. This can never be tolerated.'
Victim's Ordeal
The trial heard that the victim agreed to meet Ijomanta in August 2024 after contact on Snapchat. She disclosed her age, but he initially pretended to be much younger. After she arrived, he locked the door, offered her chocolate and a drink suspected to be alcohol, and then flew into a rage, accusing her of theft.
He threatened to rape her, claimed to have cancer, and warned her not to go to the police. He also threatened to harm her family and turn up at her school. The victim's father testified that she was visibly traumatised, with 'no spark of life'.
Previous Offences
Ijomanta was on bail for grooming other girls online in 2023. Following his release, he will be monitored, placed on the sex offenders register, and banned from contacting his victims.
Detective Constable Joe Gear commented: 'I want to thank the girls who assisted our investigation... I hope this outcome offers them some form of closure.'
