Man who raped one woman and sexually assaulted another in the space of 15 minutes is jailed for 10 years

A man who raped one woman and sexually assaulted another in the space of 15 minutes in a city centre street has been jailed for 10 years.

Scott Kerr, 22, was on a Christmas night out when he assaulted the women in Glasgow, close to Broomielaw, last year.

Prosecutors have branded the attacks "terrifying" and said they shocked the people of Glasgow and Scotland.

Kerr dragged his first victim, a 20-year-old woman, into a car park in James Watt Street and assaulted her with intent to rape in the early hours of December 21.

Minutes later, he raped a 22-year-old woman on a ramp into a nearby underground car park after threatening to kill her and forcing her to the ground.

Kerr, who moved from East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, to Dundee shortly before he carried out the attacks, admitted his guilt at a court hearing last month.

Judge Lady Stacey today told him he was a danger to women as she imposed an extended sentence, meaning he will be supervised for a further five years when he is freed from jail.

Passing sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh, she told Kerr: "What you did that night will have a lasting effect on two women who did nothing wrong.

"They were simply walking home when you chose to attack them, one after the other, within 15 minutes."

Call centre worker Kerr has little or no recollection of carrying out the attacks, the court heard today.

Advocate depute Gillian Wade, prosecuting, told the High Court in Glasgow last month that he had been on a Christmas night out with colleagues and a substantial amount of alcohol had been consumed.

He and some friends ended up in a club but Kerr was thrown out for falling asleep just after 3am.

Outside, he argued with members of his group and, after being punched, stormed off, away from the hotel where they were staying.

His friends tried to phone him but got no reply.

Before the attacks, Kerr was captured on CCTV loitering around the James Watt Street area for about 40 minutes.

The court heard that Kerr's first victim had been walking home alone after a night out and did not pay any attention to Kerr as he walked past her.

He ran after her and "huckled" her off the pavement. The victim felt a blow, which caused her to fall to the ground, and she was dragged further into a car park.

Ms Wade said: "She was screaming for help. She was scared and crying but continued to put up a struggle.

"She tried to get her boots off, to make it easier to run away if she got the chance or as something to use as a weapon."

After the attack, the woman, who was in a "hysterical" state, flagged down a passing taxi in Broomielaw and the police were contacted.

The court was shown CCTV footage of part of the second attack as Kerr dragged his victim along a car park access ramp.

His second victim had also been walking home after a night out when Kerr tried to engage her in conversation. He then grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her on to the ramp.

Ms Wade said: "He told her 'If you scream, I'll f****** kill you'."

The court heard that the woman stayed quiet out of fear of what he would do to her. Kerr pushed her to the ground and raped her.

After the attack, the woman told a delivery van driver what had happened. He had seen a police van around the corner in Broomielaw, which had arrived in response to the first attack, and he took her there.

The court heard that after CCTV images were released to the media, some of Kerr's colleagues contacted police and gave them his name.

When shown the images, Kerr agreed that it could be him and he attended Dundee police station on December 23, where he told officers: "It's me in the pictures. I just wanted to sort this out."

Defence QC Robert Anthony said Kerr cannot recollect carrying out the attacks, but accepts his guilt.

"He is sorry for his actions," the lawyer told the court.

He asked the judge to show a degree of leniency, saying Kerr's behaviour was out of character and his early guilty plea meant his victims did not have to relive their ordeal by giving evidence in court.

He added that Kerr, who has already completed an alcohol awareness course, was someone who was prepared to take steps to address his issues.

The lawyer also pointed to Kerr's lack of previous convictions for violent or sexual offending. He has a previous conviction for drink-driving.

The rapist appeared to wipe away tears at one point as his lawyer spoke on his behalf.

Lady Stacey, who has already placed Kerr on the sex offenders register, said he had admitted two very serious offences.

She said one background assessment prepared for the court found he posed a high risk of reoffending.

"Excessive drinking does not excuse your behaviour and it does not offer an explanation for it either," the judge told him.

She said his behaviour had come as a "shocking surprise" to his family and friends.

"You have shown by your behaviour that you are a danger to women," the judge told him.

PA