'Depraved' man who raped women and assaulted baby jailed for 18 years

A "violent and depraved" rapist who attacked four former partners and assaulted a baby has been jailed for 18 years.

Dariusz Matejewicz subjected three of the women to a string of sexual attacks over a 15-year period, leaving one in the "worst pain she had ever experienced", at locations in Inverness, Aviemore and Dingwall in the Highlands and Glenrothes in Fife.

The 39-year-old denied all charges during a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, but was convicted in April of 12 offences including five of rape as well as assault to danger of life, assault, indecent assault, and stalking.

Sentencing, judge Lord Stuart said Matejewicz had shown no remorse for his actions.

He will spend 18 years in prison and serve a further seven years in the community, with the possibility of being returned to prison should he reoffend.

Matejewicz was also made the subject of non-harassment orders in respect of all four rape victims - banning him from contacting or approaching them for life – and was placed on the sex offenders register.

Matejewicz, formerly of Inverness. targeted his partner between May 2007 and September 2008. He held a knife to her neck, kicked her in the head, and held her hand over a hot cooker.

He also subjected her to repeated rapes and sexual assault and threatened to kill her if she ever left.

During 2008, he also attacked a baby, aged between three months and six months old, on various occasions.

Matejewicz restricted her breathing by forcing a fabric ball in her mouth, which caused her airway to become obstructed, threatened to throw her against a wall and dropped a pram she was in.

All of these actions were said to be to the danger of her life.

Matejewicz went on to rape a second woman while she slept at a house in Glenrothes on 5 October 2011, before targeting a third in Dingwall between October 2013 and June 2014.

The court heard he repeatedly struck her on the head and body, kicked her, ripped hair from her head and shouted threats of violence towards her family.

She was raped by Matejewicz at a hotel in Dingwall in June 2014.

A fourth woman was targeted at a house in Inverness in the summer of 2021.

The trial heard Matejewicz "repeatedly raped" her and threatened her with a knife.

Matejewicz, who was born in Poland but came to Scotland aged 19 to work in hospitality, was told his crimes constituted a "significant body of offending" during sentencing at the High Court in Stirling.

His lawyer, Richard Goddard KC, said he had a "strong work ethic" and had run his own construction company since 2022.

Lord Stuart said he had offered no explanation for his actions, with Matejewicz claiming his "ex-partners and the police have conspired to make up allegations".

The judge added: "Coercion, physical and psychological control and violence including sexual violence were all part of these domestically abusive relationships.

"You abused the position of trust within your relationships, you targeted those who had become vulnerable as a result of your actions.

"It was clear from seeing and hearing the complainers give evidence that they all suffered significant physical and psychological harm."

Speaking after Matejewicz was convicted in April, Det Insp Gordon Pattullo said: "Matejewicz is a violent and depraved individual.

"The women and child affected by actions have suffered deeply, and I hope this verdict provides them with some measure of comfort."

He added: "His conviction is as a direct result of their strength in coming forward and providing information which assisted our inquiries."