Locations
Maxwell Place, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, ML5
Description
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.