Rapist who told traumatised victim he would 'snap her neck' jailed

John MacDonald, 65, also groped a young woman in her 20s, leaving her feeling 'dirty'.

Rapist John MacDonald, 65, who told traumatised victim he would ‘snap her neck’ jailed Google Maps

A rapist who attacked two younger women has been jailed for five-and-a-half years.

John MacDonald told a rape victim after she tried to escape his clutches: “F**k up or I will snap your neck.”

The 65-year-old struck again months later with the second woman left feeling she wanted to “rip her skin off”.

MacDonald had denied the accusations during a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

But, he was found guilty of raping and physically assaulting the first victim at his then-home in Greenock, Inverclyde on October 20 2021.

MacDonald was further convicted of sexually assaulting and making lewd remarks to the other woman at another property in the town.

Judge Lady Stacey said: “You have been convicted of a serious charge and the court has to take a serious view of what happened.

“I understand that things went on a downward spiral after the death [of his partner] and were drinking at this time.

“I take account of your age, no previous convictions and got so far in your life without law breaking.

“It is a pity to see a man of your age getting convictions in your mid sixties.”

Jurors earlier heard how the rape victim had been sleeping, but awoke to find MacDonald having sex with her.

She had earlier gone to bed wanting to be left “alone”.

After being confronted, MacDonald told her she had been “sleeping for ten minutes”.

The traumatised woman was initially stopped from leaving the predator’s home.

He grabbed this victim, struggled with her and then made the chilling comment that he would “snap her neck”.

The woman ended up in tears when she finally escaped.

She denied any sex was consensual as she “did not think” of MacDonald in “that way” given the near 30 year age gap.

The woman also became emotional during the trial when shown photos of the room where the rape occurred.

The other victim – in her 20s – was attacked on May 16 2022 after MacDonald had earlier made a number of sexual remarks to her.

They were standing in a kitchen when he started groping her and she desperately tried pushing him off.

In his closing speech to the jury, prosecutor Alan Parfery said: “He would not take no for an answer.”

It was only when someone came into the kitchen that he stopped.

Describing how she felt afterwards, this victim said: “I wanted to rip my skin off because I felt so dirty.”

Mr Parfery said it was apparent MacDonald had a “predilection” for young women.

Gail Gianni, defending, told the sentencing that her client continues to profess his innocence.

She said: “Had his partner not passed away, he would not have been in this downward spiral.

“They had 34 years together – he would not be in court today – it is a sad set of circumstances.”

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