Newton Stewart rapist Douglas McCleary jailed for seven years

A man who subjected a woman to a sustained assault before raping her in a south west Scotland town has been jailed for seven years.

Douglas McCleary, 44, prevented his victim from climbing out of a window to escape and threatened to kill her.

He was found guilty by a jury last month of carrying out the attack in Newton Stewart in August 2011.

A judge told him at the High Court in Edinburgh: "The events she described were truly horrifying."

McCleary repeatedly punched and kicked his 37-year-old victim and seized her by the hair and threw her around before pushing her down on a bed and raping her.

Lord Tyre pointed out that McCleary had a previous record for violence, including a rape conviction from more than 20 years ago.

The judge said there were "a number of issues" that he required to address with specialist help, particularly his tendency to resort to violence.

He said he had to impose a sentence dealing with the seriousness of the offence and the need to protect the public.

Lord Tyre ordered that McCleary, of no fixed address, should also be kept under supervision for a further three years.

The judge told him: "You will remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely."

McCleary and the woman had gone to a house in Newton Stewart, in Wigtownshire, last summer. He confined her in the flat and began shouting and swearing at her and calling her abusive names.

During an earlier trial he had denied raping the woman, claiming that sex had been consensual, but a jury convicted him of carrying out the sex attack.

Defence solicitor advocate William McVicar said McCleary had indicated that he would take part in any necessary course work during his sentence.

"He has come to a realisation that his conduct cannot continue in this vein," he said.

"It is clear to me he regrets becoming involved in this incident."

Lord Tyre told McCleary: "You do accept things need to change and I hope that in the course of your time in prison and after release you will take advantage of the help available to you."