A serial rapist who told one victim she dreamed his sick attack is appealing his conviction.
Matthew Ferguson, 24, was jailed for seven years in November for raping three women while they slept at addresses in Dundee and Galashiels between 2011-2016.
But the Tele can reveal lawyers acting on his behalf have lodged an application to have his conviction quashed at the Court of Criminal Appeal.
Yesterday, one of Ferguson’s victims said she was “disgusted” that he had chosen to appeal.
Jude Byres – who waived her right to anonymity – was raped by Ferguson on various occasions between March 2013 and April 2015 at addresses in Dundee.
Ferguson, of Wellgrove Street, also had unlawful sex with her between April 2012 and April 2013.
The 21-year-old said: “My heart sank when I got the letter saying that he was appealing.
“It’s ridiculous, he should be thankful he only got seven years for raping three women multiple times over a few years.
“I’m pretty disgusted to be honest – the sentence that he got was lenient enough.
“I am worried about it – hopefully he won’t have any time taken off his sentence.”
Jude previously told the Tele that Ferguson had said that she “must have dreamed” his attack while she slept.
Ferguson denied a series of charges during his trial at the High Court in Edinburgh but was found guilty of the attacks, committed between March 2011 and April 2016.
All of the victims were asleep and incapable of giving or withholding consent.
One victim said she was attacked while staying as a guest at a house party.
She later told police that Ferguson had come into the room where she was sleeping and molested her.
Describing when Ferguson raped her, she said: “It took me a minute or so to realise someone was lying on top of me.”
Ferguson’s counsel, solicitor advocate Iain Paterson, said before the rapist was sentenced: “He intends to take every opportunity afforded to him in the prison system to reduce his risk of re-offending in the future.”
As well as jailing Ferguson, judge Lady Carmichael placed him on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
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