Rapist chef receives nine-year jail term

A chef described as a “serious danger to women” has been jailed for nine years after his latest sex attack on a vulnerable victim.

Convicted rapist Matthew Walker was found guilty of assaulting and raping a woman at an address in a village in the Scottish Borders at a trial earlier this year.

The woman was intoxicated with drink or an unknown substance and incapable of consenting at the time he subjected her to the sexual assault in March 2021.

The 53-year-old went on to commit further sex attacks on three women in the same year. He had denied the offences but was found guilty by a jury.

After his conviction at the High Court in Edinburgh earlier this year the court heard he had also been jailed in 2001 after he stalked young women in Edinburgh – subjecting one to a sex assault and raping another.

The judge at his earlier trial, Lord Dawson, told him: “It is quite apparent to me you are a serious danger to women.”

Following that sentence he was convicted three times and jailed twice for breaching a sexual offences prevention order.

Judge Alison Stirling, who presided over his latest trial, told him: “Custody is the only appropriate disposal having regard to the serious nature of your offending.”

She also ordered that he should be under supervision in the community for a further five-year period after the nine-year jail term.

Walker was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely following his sentencing and the judge made a non-harassment order prohibiting him from approaching or contacting the rape victim.