Public protest over rapist's return

Jun 25 2012

Hundreds of people have held a protest over the return of the Da Vinci Code rapist to the community where he committed his crime seven years ago.

Robert Greens, from Mayfield in Midlothian, was rehoused in the area because it was deemed the "most stable" place for him, council officials said.

The sex offender was drunk and on drugs when he attacked a 19-year-old Dutch student on May 15 2005 near Rosslyn Chapel, in Roslin, Midlothian, which was a setting for Dan Brown's novel and the Hollywood film The Da Vinci Code, starring Tom Hanks.

The woman was so badly injured that a motorist who saw her standing by the side of the road thought she had been hit by a car.

Greens was jailed for 10 years in 2006.

Police said around 250 people were involved in the demonstration tonight, marching from Newtongrange to Greens' house.

Lothian and Borders Police said the protest remained peaceful and that there were no arrests.

Last week, Midlothian Council said Greens would be more stable in the area where he was from, which would protect the public better.

The council said public safety was "paramount" and robust procedure will manage his return to the community.

Greens claims he cannot remember raping the woman. He initially blamed his twin brother for the sex attack on the B7003 road, between Roslin and the village of Rosewell, which is less than 10 miles from his current location.