A Chinese national student who raped, bit and forced a woman to do his homework has been jailed for six years. Ziyi Shi, 22, committed the offences while studying at the University of Edinburgh.
Attacks at student accommodation
The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Shi raped the woman while she slept and continued his attacks despite her having woken up and not consenting. He slapped and grabbed the woman by the neck, and bit her after she refused to have sex or let him check her phone. Some of the rapes were carried out at student accommodation.
During one attack, Shi grabbed the woman, choked her and slapped her in the face. The abuse continued from September 2022 until January 2024. The BBC reports he forced the woman to do his university work.
Conviction and sentencing
Shi had claimed the sex was consensual but was found guilty of rape, abusive behaviour and breaching an order not to contact the woman during proceedings. Gary Allan KC, defending Shi, said a prison sentence would isolate his client from his family for a significant period.
The defendant denied bullying the woman and said he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He told the court that the University of Edinburgh had suspended him. Shi had been studying an electronics and electrical engineering course at the university.
Deportation likely
Judge Thomas Welsh told Shi that custody for such offences was inevitable and that he is very likely to be deported once his sentence ends.
