Rapist is jailed for 13 years

A cruel sex attacker who throttled and raped two women during a campaign of degradation has been jailed for 13 years.

John Grant, formerly of Airdrie, subjected his terrified victims to repeated attacks at houses in Coatbridge and Paisley.

Grant, 36, was convicted by a jury at his trial at the High Court in Glasgow last month of nine charges of rape.

Bu t judge Graeme Buchanan said the reality was that over a period between 2013 and 2016, Grant committed “a very great number of such crimes against your unfortunate victims”.

Judge Buchanan said at the High Court in Edinburgh last week: “Both of these young women were vulnerable and you took advantage ofthosevulnerabilitiesandsubjected them to regular sexual violence of an appalling nature.”

The judge said Grant’s behaviour was“utterly selfish”and inflicted damage to his victims.

He added that he had concluded that the sex predator posed a high risk of causing serious harm from which the public should be protected.

Grant was ordered to be kept under supervision for an additional four-year period and warned if he failed to comply with licence conditions during this time he could be returned to prison.

Grant, who used to live on Barcloy Place in Airdrie, had earlier denied a string of sex charges during his trial.

The court heard that he continued to deny the crimes.

Grant’s counsel John Mcelroy said:“he is someone who has been convicted, although he does not accept he should have been convicted.

“He is someone who is aware how repulsive sexual violence is and how wrong it is. But his position is because he says he did not commit these offences he cannot, in the particular circumstances of this case, recognise the impact upon the victims.”

Mr Mcelroy said that he had provided references written on behalf of Grant and added:“he is considered to be a decent individual.”

Grant attacked his first victim in 2013 and called her derogatory names, pulled her hair and hit her on the face and body.

He also grabbed her by the throat and restricted her breathing, causing her to lose consciousness. On one occasion the woman was left vomiting after he carried out a sexual assault on her.

His second victim was first attacked by him in 2016.

She was also subjected to abusive name calling and was punched and hit on the face.

She was also throttled until she passed out and subjected to rape when she was unconscious by Grant.

Grant, who followed the sentencing proceedings via a video link to Barlinnie prison, was told he would be on the sex offenders’register indefinitely.

Caged John Grant