A rapist who attacked a student in a Dundee car park just weeks after being released from prison has abandoned an appeal against his sentence.
Mark Arnott appeared via video link at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh after claiming his nine-and-half-year sentence was “excessive”.
The 37-year-old caused his victim to suffer panic attacks and suicidal thoughts after the assault on West Henderson Wynd in November.
The rape was committed just 20 days after he was released from prison for robbery.
Judge Lord Mulholland jailed Arnott for nine and a half years in July and placed him on licence for four years after his release.
He was also added to the sex offenders register.
His counsel, advocate Craig Findlater, told the court Arnott had decided to withdraw his appeal on the day of the hearing in front of Lord Menzies and Lord Turnbull.
Arnott, a prisoner at Perth, spoke briefly during the short hearing to confirm he could see the court and that he was agreeing to withdraw his appeal.
A legal source said: “Mr Arnott was struggling to find an agent to run the appeal for him. No one wanted to do it.”
Arnott admitted carrying out the attack on his 18-year-old victim when he appeared at the High Court in Glasgow in June.
The court was told the student was seen walking past Arnott as he stood smoking a cigarette. He was caught on CCTV running up behind her and dragging her into the car park.
Arnott fled, but was tracked down three days later before admitting his guilt. The court was told he’d only planned to rob the student.
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