Latest Offenders

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A retired teacher convicted of serious sexual assaults against 11 girls during the 1970s has been jailed for 20 years.

Timothy Bleach, 76, attacked girls aged between eight and 11 while he worked at Weyford Junior School in Bordon, Hampshire, between 1973 and 1980.

Passing sentence, Judge Roger Hetherington said Bleach's victims suffered "real psychological damage".

He was convicted of 56 offences including rapes, indecent assaults and acts of gross indecency.

Bleach, of Hazel Walk, Petersfield, raped one girl on no fewer than 10 occasions and another at least three times.

Hampshire Police received the first complaint against him in 2014 from a woman who had watched a BBC report on the force's work on historical sex crimes.

During a five-week trial at Portsmouth Crown Court, the jury was told Bleach attacked pupils in a school store cupboard, in classrooms and at some of their homes.

Judge Hetherington said Bleach took advantage of the girls' "innocence and trusting nature", in some cases assaulting them in front of other pupils and on other occasions at his home where he gave piano lessons.

"You used the cover of teaching, and the respect accorded to that profession, to pursue your predilection," he added.

The court heard he continued to offend after moving to Africa - raping a schoolgirl in Zambia.

Hampshire police said his victims - now women in their 40s - showed "remarkable bravery and courage" in coming forward to give evidence.

Det Insp Jim Park said: "Mr Bleach - a teacher, and as such a man entrusted to safeguard children - abused his position of trust over and over again by committing these awful acts."

Bleach showed little emotion as he was sentenced. He will not be considered for parole until he has served half of his 20 year sentence.

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THE disgraced former chaplain of a Roman Catholic children’s home who sexually abused boys in his care deserved every day of his 15-year jail term, the nation’s top judge has ruled.

Anthony McCallen, 70, was convicted of 11 serious sexual offences against children at Leeds Crown Court and locked away in January this year.

His crimes took place while he was a priest living in the presbytery at a home for troubled youngsters near Market Weighton, east Yorkshire, during the 1970s and 1980s.

His lawyers claimed his punishment was over the top when compared to the more lenient treatment of a lay teacher at the school who was a committed paedophile.

Now defrocked McCallen, of Whernside Crescent, Ingleby Barwick , had led a blameless life since 1993, it was argued.

His case was heard along with those of eight other sex offenders at London’s Appeal Court by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas, and four other senior judges.

Lord Thomas’s ruling in the test case will be used by courts around the country from now on as guidance when passing sentence in historic child abuse cases.

The judge said there were four teenage victims of McCallen’s crimes, one of whom he regularly assaulted after “coming to his bed at night”.

The same boy was raped by McCallen after the cleric asked him to his home for tea, the court heard.

In 1993, after leaving the school, McCallen was convicted of importing an indecent video, six offences of taking indecent photos of young boys and two counts of indecent assault.

McCallen was finally brought to book for his crimes at the school after Humberside Police launched an investigation into sex abuse there in 2010.

And, dismissing his appeal, Lord Thomas said: “There was nothing wrong in principle with the sentence imposed for these offences”

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A paedophile who fled to Spain after being found guilty of taking part in a child sex ring has been jailed. Leila Kassam, 32, of Mornington Road, Leytonstone, was jailed at Blackfriars Crown Court today (Monday, December 12) for four years. She admitted having sex with a 15-year-old girl and arranging a child sex offence in June this year before fleeing the country while on bail. Kassam and her partner, Paul Silverthorn, 36, also of Mornington Road, had with sex the girl after she was introduced to them by a fixer in 2014. Silverthorn tied the victim to a bed after she was given the legal high 5 NEO at a party in Coventry House, Haymarket, before Kassam molested her. The couple also sexually abused a second 15-year-old girl, while Silverthorn took explicit photos of the teenager. Kassam escaped to Spain before she was sentenced and worked on a farm in Ibiza over the summer months. Kassam and ex-boyfriend Paul Silverthorn went on the run in June The farm owner contacted police after seeing Crimewatch and Crimestoppers appeals online. A European Arrest Warrant was executed by the Guardia Civil in Spain and Kassam was flown back to the UK on December 9. Silverthorn is still on the run following his conviction. He is also wanted for administering a substance to a second 16-year-old victim, possessing prohibited images of a child and distributing indecent photographs of a child. He was sentenced to nine years behind bars in absence. Faham Jaffer, 33, of High Street, Colliers Wood, and Daniel Trinnaman, 20, of Ventnor Avenue, Stanmore, were jailed in June for their parts in the plot. Trinnaman was sentenced for sexual activity with a child and perverting the course of justice by sending threatening Facebook messages while Jaffer was found guilty of having sex with a child.

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A paedophile is starting a three year prison sentence for sexual and cruelty offences against a child. John Denian, 65, handyman, of Dewe Road, Brighton, was sentenced when he appeared at Brighton Crown Court on Friday. Denian was found guilty of incitement to gross indecency and indecent assault on a girl aged between 5 and 10 between 1980 and 1985, and cruelty to the same girl between 1980 and 1991. He was sentenced to one year for the indecency offences, and two years for the child cruelty offence, with both sentences running consecutively. He will also be register as a sex offender for ten years. Detective Constable Sarah Townsend said: "Denian took advantage of the vulnerability of this young girl, who he knew, for many years, starting when she was barely five years old. It was a quite appalling breach of trust and only a year ago did she feel able to come forward and tell us what had happened to her over so many years. "We admire her bravery in coming forward and being prepared to give evidence. It shows that we will always take such reports seriously and will investigate wherever possible." Following Denian's conviction his victim, who has anonymity under Sexual Offences Act, said: "My childhood was filled with fear, uncertainty, misery and the feeling I had nowhere to turn as a result of the violence and abuse I experienced. I felt conscious of small things every day, even what I wore and how I presented myself. "I spent years feeling petrified of John Denian and it has been extremely difficult for me to come forward and speak about this but it was the right decision to do so. "I also chose to give my evidence in court without the use of screens or video link because I wanted to face him as an adult, and show him I have control of my own life and I wasn't afraid of him any more. "I am delighted that he has been convicted and I can now move forward with the continued support of my friends and partner."

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A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed for 12 years after committing 16 sex offences against two young girls over a period of more than 25 years.

Pensioner Ralph Gwynne (72) was convicted of nine offences of indecent assault of a child, six offences of sexual activity with a child and one of taking indecent pictures of a child.

Nottingham Crown Court heard that Gwynne, of Willow Close, Bramley, touched one of his victim’s private parts at his home between September 1985 and March 1986.

He also touched another girl sexually and took indecent pictures of her when they were both in his car while it was parked in a layby between 2010 and 2012.

The court heard the victims have been subjected to nightmares, flashbacks and anxiety because of what Gwynne had done.

As he sentenced Gwynne on Friday, Honour Judge Steven Coupland, said: “You were somebody who took every opportunity you could to get away with it and abuse them for your own sexual gratification.

“She [the girl who was abused between 2010 and 2012] is subjected to anxiety that continues until this day. I am satisfied there are lasting effects because of what you did to her.”

Gwynne was banned from having any unsupervised contact or communication with a female child under the age of 16, unless it is unavoidable, or with the consent of the child’s parent or guardian and the approval of social services.

The judge told him he must not live or sleep in the same dwelling as any female child under the age of 16 or seek or undertake any employment, including voluntary work, whether for payment or otherwise which is likely to allow him unsupervised access to a female child under the age of 16.

Det Con Rachael Burgin, who led the investigation, said: “I am extremely happy with the verdict we have been able to achieve and Gwynne is now rightly behind bars where he can cause no further harm.

“An investigation was launched into Gwynne, who refused to take responsibility for the abuse he inflicted on his victims for his own sexual gratification, in January 2015 after the historic abuse was reported to police. He has now been found guilty of the crimes he committed and is being punished for his despicable actions.

“I would like to praise all of the victims for having the courage to come forward and report the abuse they suffered as children.

“South Yorkshire Police are committed to achieving justice for victims who have suffered from sexual abuse and I would like to encourage anyone who is, or has been a victim to please come forward and report it to police.

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A SEXUAL predator who attacked a sleeping woman has been jailed for 18 months.

Ross Laing, 21, of Maxwell Place, Coatbridge, carried out the sickening assault on the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as she slept on August 15 last year.

Following a trial at Airdrie Sheriff Court, a jury took just over an hour to find Laing guilty by a majority verdict of the attack on the woman, who had to relive her ordeal by giving evidence.

Laing was convicted of sexually penetrating the woman and placing his hand under her clothing while she was asleep, causing her to awaken.

The jury then heard under questioning from Prosecutor Julie OHara how Laing grabbed the woman by the shoulder and pulled her on to her back, penetrating her with his fingers, then chased her and pushed her towards the bed and attempted to prevent her from leaving the room.

The jury acquitted Laing of a second sexual charge by a majority verdict, finding the case against him not proven.

He had been charged with an offence, also alleged to have happened at his home on August 15.

It had been claimed he sexually assaulted another woman by seizing her by the arms, pulling her down on to his bed and repeatedly attempting to lie on top of her, repeatedly attempting to kiss her and placing his hand under her bra. It was also claimed he touched her breasts, pushed up her skirt, and placed his hand inside her underwear and touched her against her will.

Sheriff Frank Pieri told Laing that as well as being jailed for 18 months he has also been placed on the sex offenders register.

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A paedophile who sexually assaulted young girls he groomed over social media has been jailed. Shane Fielding, 21, of Cheriton Drive, Bolton, used social networking apps to prey on girls as young as 13. Attacks took place after meetings were arranged following online chats. Fielding pleaded guilty to grooming, two counts of sexual activity with a child and three counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. At Bolton Crown Court, he was sentenced to three years, two months in prison. The offences came to light after GMP officers investigated Fieldings communications on social networking sites. Police said he chatted to girls over the internet to gain their trust ahead of meetings. The charges relate to four girls who were aged between 13 and 15 at the time. Det Sgt Lisa Clarke praised the victims for their courage and bravery. She said: I would ask everyone to be aware of the dangers of communicating with anyone they dont know on social media and for parents to be vigilant about their childrens access to technology.

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A RAPIST who used Facebook to distribute a video of his victim having sex has been jailed for nine years.

Sentencing Kevin Bond, Judge Graeme Smith told him: It was a totally despicable way to act.

Following a six-day trial at Bolton Crown Court Bond, aged 32, of Elsdon Gardens, Tonge Moor, was found guilty of rape, disclosing a private sexual video with intent to cause distress and a sexual assault.

He admitted a further count of common assault and was cleared by a jury of three further counts of rape and criminal damage.

The court had heard how the sexual assault charge arose because Bond had filmed his victim without her knowledge as she slept on May 25, 2014 and she only found out about it when he passed her a pen drive containing the footage.

Then, on April 27 last year he called at her home and saw her, through the letterbox, committing a sexual act with a man.

Furious, he admitted assaulting her, and the court heard that he was so jealous that he used Facebook to send her partner a video he had taken of her having oral sex with himself.

Bond went on to threaten his victim that he would distribute further sexual videos of her.

She would have known that you were going to potentially carry out the threat, Judge Smith told Bond.

With his victim fearing he would go ahead with distributing the videos, that evening Bond raped the woman. It is quite clear to me that you had sent a sexual video without her consent and that resulted in her having sex with you against her will, said Judge Smith.

Colin Buckle, defending, said Bond was remorseful.

He added that the greatest punishment father-of-two Bond will endure is the loss of contact with his children while he is in prison.

But Judge Smith told Bond: This is something you have entirely brought upon yourself.

Bond has been placed on the sex offenders register for life and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for an indefinite period.

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A BASINGSTOKE man has been jailed for 20 years after being found guilty of sexual offences against three children. Steven Mark Beddoes, of St Peter's Road, South Ham, was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on Friday November 18, after a jury found the 46-year-old guilty in August at the end of his trial. He was found guilty of 23 of the 24 offences he had denied. The offences included rape, attempted rape, indecent assault and indecency with a children. The court heard that Beddoes sexually assaulted three children - two girls and a boy - in the Basingstoke area during a period between 1999 and 2014. On Friday, Judge Susan Evans sentenced Beddoes to 20 years imprisonment, with an extended licence period of six years. He was also ordered to be placed on the sexual offenders register for life. A joint investigation was carried out into Beddoes offending by Hampshire Constabularys Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT) and Basingstoke CID. Detective Constable Timothy McSpadden, of CAIT, and Detective Constable Alex Hall, of Basingstoke CID, said: The sentence handed down reflects the gravity of the offences committed by Steven Beddoes and how seriously the court takes these matters. The victims in this case have been very courageous in both speaking to the police and giving evidence in court. By doing this they have allowed justice to be served and have prevented Beddoes from causing any more harm to the most vulnerable people in our society. The police and the CPS would not be able to prosecute Steven Beddoes if it had not been for the bravery of the victims coming forward. We would like to thank them for speaking to us and trusting us to help them."

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An offender who sent indecent images of himself to girls under 16 through the social media site Snapchat has been spared a jail sentence.

Instead, Robert Shewan Groat, 26, of South Road, Lerwick, has been ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work after he appeared in the Lerwick dock for sentence.

Groat was handed the hours by Sheriff Philip Mann as part of an 18-month community payback order.

He will remain on the sex offenders register throughout the duration of the order.

Groat previously admitted sending the images to four girls.

He intentionally caused girls aged between 13 and 15 to look at a sexual image of himself naked or wearing only his underwear and pictures of his genitalia.

The incident happened between 1st July and 16th August 2014.

Groat also admitted causing a 16-year-old girl to look at a sexual image of himself wearing underwear, and with himself exposed between 1st and 31st August 2014.

The offending started after one of the girls added Groat to the social media site, which allows people to post pictures, to communicate with him about a rowing team he was starting up.

The incidents happened in Bressay and elsewhere in the isles.

Sentence had been deferred for reports, and Groat was warned that the court would be considering all sentencing options.

But Sheriff Mann was today persuaded Groat could be handed a community-based disposal.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Groat had co-operated fully with the court, adding it was clear from the start the matter would be resolved.

He said contact was made with the families of the complainers at a very early stage, and apologies had been tendered.

Mr Allan said Groat had been assessed as being at a low risk of re-offending.

He said Groat was immature for his years and had suffered from a very low mood because of what was going on in his life.

Hes really had to leave where he was living and try to find a new life. The stigma of his appearance in court for these offences is something he will have to work very hard to throw off.

The agent said Groat had accepted his responsibility for what had happened, and had pleaded at a very early stage.

Sheriff Mann told Groat: This was a very, very serious series of offending. It was quite unacceptable to subject these young girls to the photographs you sent to them via Snapchat. Its all the more serious because these girls contacted you for entirely innocent purposes. Whether you were intoxicated or not, you took advantage of that, so it is a serious matter.

However, the Sheriff said Groat was a first offender and, on that basis, could be sentenced without the imposition of a custodial sentence.

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A delivery driver has been jailed for four years after sexually assaulting a woman as he dropped off a parcel at her Chelmsley Wood home.

Wasim Bhar, 24, exposed himself and groped the disabled householder after she opened the door to him.

The terrified victim told a court she had been unable to fight off the Hermes delivery driver, who denied the attack when arrested by police.

But Bhar, of Lawford Grove, Highgate, was convicted after a jury at Warwick Crown Court was told he had left traces of DNA at the scene.

The court also heard he had hid criminal convictions of theft to get the self-employed job with Hermes.

As well as being jailed, Bhar was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

Prosecutor Scott Coughtrie said: This case is about a man who, while conducting his role as a parcel delivery driver, came across, or even targeted, a disabled and therefore vulnerable woman in her own home.

He sexually attacked her. Firmly grasping her by her arm, he sexually assaulted her for his own gratification.

Bhar was a self-employed delivery driver for Hermes when he arrived at the womans home with a parcel in January.

The victim told the court: He gave me the parcel, and I threw it behind me in the hallway, and said thank you.

He said, Ive seen you before. I fancy you, love.

I said, You dont even know me, and I dont know you. I stood there feeling shocked.

She said Bhar asked whether she was alone and she said someone else was in another room. He backed off, but then he came back at me..., she said.

He grabbed my arm and held it up, and then he pulled my t-shirt up... I started pushing him out of the door, but he kept coming back, asking me to do things with him.

I was scared for my life.

Police were called and enquiries with Hermes led to Bhar, whose Facebook posts including him posing with British boxing champ Amir Khan.

But after being arrested he claimed nothing unusual had taken place that day and that the woman was delusional.

After DNA tests linked him to the scene he accepted there had been sexual contact, but claimed it had been consensual.

Judge Richard Griffith-Jones said: You attacked a woman who was disabled. She manages very well, but she needs that important commodity for someone who is disabled, confidence; and she puts great store by the haven and refuge of her home.

You had access to her by reason of your employment as a delivery driver, something you should not have been doing. They would never have employed you if they had known what a thoroughly dishonest person you were.

The grave features of this case are that you attacked a disabled woman for your own sexual gratification, you went into her home to do so, what you did was an abuse of trust, and you have shown not an ounce of regret.

The judge added: The defendant has no convictions for sexual offences, but the jury may be concerned to learn that an employee of Hermes has a number of convictions for theft and other dishonesty.

An impact statement from the victim was read out before sentencing. She said: My home was all I had, and was my safe place. Since this thing happened to me its not my safe place anymore, because of this man.

Jasvir Mann, defending, said: Whether the defendant understands it or not, a victim is entitled to feel they have sanctuary in their own home. He does not admit the offence, but acknowledges the jury found him guilty and that he is going to be punished accordingly.

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A man who subjected vulnerable girls to a number of counts of sexual abuse in Wellingborough has been jailed. Colin Darlington, 51, of Melick Road, of Beanhill, Milton Keynes, was sentenced to 20 years in prison at Aylesbury Crown Court. Darlington was found guilty at an earlier court hearing of two counts of rape of a female child under the age of 16, and of 10 counts of indecent assault. He was found not guilty of one count of indecent assault. The offences relate to incidents which occurred in Wellingborough during the 1990s and in Milton Keynes in the 2000s. Darlington targeted vulnerable girls, aged between 11 and 15 at the time of the offences, and subjected them to either rape or sexual assaults. He was charged on 30 December, 2014, and convicted on October 4. At the sentencing, His Honour Judge Cole paid tribute to the victims and referred to Darlington as a ruthless, determined paedophile. Investigating officer Det Con Graeme Williams, of the Thames Valley Police Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: This has been a long and difficult process for the victims and we would like to thank them for both their courage in coming forward, and their resilience through such a demanding trial. These offences have had a great and lasting impact on their lives and I hope that the sentence handed out by the court will go some way to helping them move forward.

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Derry Crown Court heard the woman was choked, strangled and bitten by the 29-year-old.

On one occasion Healy scraped a large kitchen knife along her chest after teasing her with threats of injury.

He also banged her head off the wall, squeezed her neck and covered her mouth whilst he slapped her face and bit her.

The court was told Healy urinated over the womans face before forcing her to perform a sexual act on him. This occurred on three occasions.

He also raped her three times while she was being donkey punched on the head and body.

The court heard this is something that is alleged to heighten sexual feelings during intercourse.

During police interview, Healy admitted the physical assaults but denied any sexual aspect to them or any other sexual offending.

It was revealed that the victim has suffered considerably on a psychological level and has been receiving treatment and medication. This is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

Passing sentence, Judge Philip Babington said the offences were aggravated but the humiliating violence over and above the sexual offending and the impact it had.

He added: This case has contained some of the most terrible and concerning sexual offending this court has seen for a very long time.

Healy will spend half his sentence in custody and the remaining half on licence.

He will also be on the sex offenders register and be subject to a sexual offences prevention order for an indefinite period.

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Jack Williams, 19, of Mount Road admitted kidnapping the woman, holding her against her will on the beach and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent A woman in her 60s was beaten and brutally raped on a beach by a teenager who was high on drink and drugs. The victim, who suffered serious injuries, believed she was about to be killed, Mold Crown Court heard. Jack Williams, 19, of Mount Road in Rhyl , admitted kidnapping the woman, holding her against her will on the beach, and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent. He also pleaded guilty to three charges of rape during the attack on August 27. The teenager was sentenced to 12 years detention, of which he must serve two-thirds, with an additional two years on licence. Williams was also ordered to register with the police as a sex offender for life. A 10-year restraining order was made not to approach the victim or enter the town where she lives. Before sentence was passed a victim impact statement the woman was read out to the court. She said: My life has changed and I honestly feel it will never be the same for me or my family again. This horrendous experience will only end when I am in the grave. The woman said she was scared of going out alone, felt vulnerable and in a panic, did not feel safe and was not sure if she would ever feel safe again. The victim said she was tearful most days, it had affected her and her family, and she had vivid flashbacks and could see his face. I remember the feeling of being powerless. I thought I was going to die that day, she said. I did survive but I feel a life sentence has been imposed upon me because of the changes in my life. The scars would never go away, she said. Andrew Green, prosecuting, said the victim left her home at about 4.40am to walk her dog. Near a railway station she noticed Williams who was drinking out of a bottle or can. He asked her the time before following and attacked her. Mr Green said: The defendant put his arm across her neck and face and she felt that he had a vice-like grip on her. She said that she could hardly breathe and was not able to shout or scream. Williams started raising his voice. She was petrified and did not struggle because he was so strong and she knew that she would not be able to run away from him. At this point she honestly believed that he was going to strangle her, Mr Green said. Williams pushed her to the ground causing a head injury. He then pulled her to her feet and she remembers seeing blood down the front of her clothing, he said. It was difficult for her to see her attackers face because he had his hood up but from time to time he pulled it down and told her not to look at him. The victim was pulled up a concrete slope onto the pebbled side of the beach and he told her: When I have finished with you, you are going to end up in the sea. The woman asked him what his mother would have thought of what he was doing but he ignored her and began the sex attack. He kicked her dog and told her to let it go, which she did. Throughout the ordeal she believed she might be killed at any point, said Mr Green. Fortunately she saw a passer-by and told her attacker, who ran off as she screamed for help. She was assisted by the passer-by who described how she was completely distraught. The woman was left feeling dirty, filthy and drained. She was left with serious injuries including a fractured eye socket, lacerations, bruising and scratches. Williams was arrested nearby at 6.30am. He said he had been drinking and taking drugs at a friends house, and was dropped off at the station intending to go to Manchester but was told to get off at the next station because he did not have a ticket. Williams denied being responsible for the attack. Matthew Curtis, defending, said it was a terrible crime by an immature and emotionally damaged young man who had been neglected as a child. He could not believe what he had done, was outraged by his actions and the distress he had caused the victim. Judge Rhys Rowlands said anyone who saw photographs taken of the woman after her ordeal would be "incensed and extremely angry" that anyone could inflict such serious injuries on a woman of that age.

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A man who sexually assaulted a teenager and raped a woman while they were sleeping has been jailed for six years.

Darren McCutcheon, 31, from Springburn, Glasgow, was convicted of attacking the 17-year-old at a house in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, in December 2012.

He was also found guilty of raping the second victim at a different address in the town on 19 April last year.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, McCutcheon was also placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

'Great distress'

Jailing him, judge Lord Woolman told McCutcheon: "On each occasion the victim was asleep and under the influence of alcohol."

The judge said his behaviour had caused "great distress and harm" and added: "There must be a clear message to deter you and others from such conduct."

Lord Woolman also ordered that McCutcheon be placed under supervision for a further two-year period after his release.

McCutcheon had denied assaulting the teenager on 8 December 2012 by going into the bed where she was sleeping at a house in Hamilton.

He also denied raping a woman at an address in the town more than two years later.

The court heard that father-of-one McCutcheon maintained that he was innocent of the crimes and claimed that the second woman had consented to intercourse.

He told the writer of a background report that he could not understand why two women should independently allege that he committed similar offences.