Sex attacker given life sentence

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A high-risk sex attacker who struck twice within months has been given a life sentence.

Grant Stewart was freed on bail twice by sheriffs before raping a woman in Dundee armed with a knife in June 2008.

Stewart, 43, had earlier assaulted another victim at a flat in the city with intent to rape her.

He must serve 10 years in jail before he can apply for parole and will be kept under supervision if he is ever released from prison.

High risk

At the High Court in Edinburgh, a judge said that after reading reports on Stewart he considered it appropriate to impose an order for lifelong restriction on him.

Lord Bannatyne said: "In essence that means I am passing a sentence of life imprisonment".

The judge also told the rapist that he would be placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Stewart, formerly of Broughty Ferry Road, Dundee, first struck on 30 November 2007 when he attacked a 40-year-old woman at a flat in the city.

During the assault he pushed her to the floor, exposed himself and pulled her into a bedroom.

He attacked his second victim, a 34-year-old, on 8 June last year when he threatened her with a knife, demanded she take off her clothes and raped her.

Defence counsel Mhairi Richards QC said background reports prepared on him indicated he was a high risk of reoffending.