Rapist who attacked women in their homes jailed for 12 years

A rapist who subjected two women to sex attacks in their homes has been jailed for 12 years.

James Beck assaulted both victims to the danger of their lives and raped them in attacks in North Lanarkshire and Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute.

A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh told Beck he had read victim impact statements from the women who suffered damaging effects from the abuse.

Beck, 58, previously denied a series of charges during a trial but was found guilty of committing two rapes and two serious assaults by a jury at the High Court in Stirling.

Lord Summers said one woman gave evidence of the "extreme violence" she was subjected to.

The judge said that the other woman was attacked while in bed after Beck entered her home and subjected her to a violent rape.

Lord Summers said that it must have been "a terrifying experience for her".

'Serious offences'

Beck attacked his first victim at an address in a village near Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, and threatened to kill her.

He hurled plates of food and household objects at her and throttled the woman, restricting her breathing.

Beck also entered the woman's home uninvited on an occasion between January 1997 and September 1999 where he bound her wrists and raped her.

He raped the second woman at a house in Helensburgh on 5 May 2005.

The following day he assaulted the victim by brandishing a knife and threatening her.

He also grabbed her by the throat, strangled her and repeatedly hit her on the head with an ornament.

Defence counsel Janice Green said Beck expected a "significant sentence".

The court heard that a background report prepared on the rapist suggested that he posed a high risk of sexual offending.

The defence counsel said if Beck's previous offending was looked at there was no evidence for a propensity for such serious crimes.

She said he started abusing substances at the age of 15 but was now a more mature man and had sought out drug counselling while in prison.

Lord Summers ordered that Beck should be under supervision for a further two-year period when he can be returned to jail if he breaches licence conditions.

The judge made non harassment orders banning him from contacting victims for 10 years.

Beck was also placed on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.