Man carried out 'brutal and degrading' attack in victim's home

A man who subjected a woman to a brutal rape in her home has been jailed for seven years.

Robert McGregor attacked his victim in Greenock on August 22, 2020.

The judge said McGregor’s desire to “humiliate and degrade” his victim was “obvious”.

Lord Young, who was provided with a victim impact statement, said: “The effect on her has been both traumatic and truly life-altering.”

The judge noted that the rapist was assessed as posing a medium risk of re-offending.

McGregor, formerly of Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, had earlier denied raping the woman but was convicted of the offence following a trial.

During the attack, he dragged the woman into the living room of her flat and pushed and grabbed her before raping her, despite her pleas for him to stop.

Defence counsel Edith Forrest told the court that McGregor continued to maintain the position that he took at his trial.

She said he has “a limited criminal history” but there are no previous convictions for sexual offences. She said at the time of the attack he was drinking and occasionally using cocaine.

Advocate depute Margaret Barron moved the court to grant a non harassment order and Lord Young made such an order prohibiting McGregor from contacting or attempting to contact the victim.

McGregor was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Detective Inspector David Tomlinson said: “McGregor’s reprehensible actions have caused lasting harm, and he will now face the consequences.

“We encourage anyone who has experienced any form of sexual or violent offence, regardless of when it happened, to report it. We will investigate all reports thoroughly and have specially trained officers and partner agencies who will support you throughout.”