Serial rapist jailed for nine years
John Fleeting was jailed at the High Court in Edinburgh
- Published
A man who repeatedly assaulted and raped two women in Clackmannanshire has been jailed for nine years.
John Fleeting, 38, was also banned from contacting his victims for 15 years.
The judge at the High Court in Edinburgh told Fleeting that his crimes were of "considerable gravity" and only a custodial sentence was appropriate.
Judge Fiona Tait also ordered that he should be placed under supervision for three years when he is released from prison.
Fleeting denied a series of charges during a trial last year but was found guilty of three offences of rape and two of assault to injury.
One woman was subjected to assaults by Fleeting between February 2008 and June 2011 at houses in Clackmannanshire.
Fleeting pushed her down a flight of stairs, repeatedly slapped her, pushed and shook her, throttled her and locked her in a house.
He also repeatedly raped the woman between January 2008 and September 2010 and on one occasion pushed her into a cupboard and locked her in.
Repeatedly punched
Fleeting's second victim was repeatedly attacked at addresses in Clackmannanshire and Stirling between October 2013 and October 2015.
He punched her on the head and body, threw her into furniture and gripped her by the throat during the violence.
He also repeatedly punched the woman on the head and body before sexually assaulting and raping her on various occasions between October 2013 and April 2015.
Defence counsel Lorenzo Alonzi said Fleeting has a lengthy criminal record but his offending had reduced significantly in recent years.
The judge said Fleeting was assessed as posing a medium risk of further sexual offending and a high risk of future violent crimes.
She said Fleeting was a persistent offender with previous convictions for assault and threatening or abusive behaviour.
She added that his victims should be commended for their courage in giving evidence.
Fleeting was placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.