Serial rapist faces life sentence after attacking three women

A man could be facing a life sentence for raping three women in Glasgow.

Alexander Rafferty put his victims through horrendous ordeals – including two who were effectively strangers.

The 55-year-old repeatedly shook his head as jurors at the High Court in Glasgow found him guilty of three rape charges.

The crimes happened between August 2018 and April 2020 at a flat in the city’s Wyndford area of Maryhill and at the predator’s home in Royston.

A judge warned Rafferty he may be hit with an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) when he returns to the dock.

The first victim had been in a relationship with the rapist.

The woman, who has since passed away, told police how Rafferty once flew into a rage because she was not getting ready fast enough prior to a night out.

Recalling a sex attack, she said Rafferty vowed to show her what “f*****g rape is”.

She added: “He ripped off my clothes. He was choking me and I could hardly breathe.

“I could not get the words out, he was choking me that much.”

Rafferty got chatting to the next victim in Glasgow city centre in late January 2020 and she went back to his flat.

He went on to threaten her, demanded she take off her clothes and refused to let her leave.

The woman dialled 999 after Rafferty raped her but ended up too scared to speak on the phone.

The final victim was abused in a similar way after Rafferty again took her back to his home.

She ended up attacking Rafferty with a screwdriver to get him away.

The woman fled from the flat, ran away and managed to flag down a passing police officer.

Prosecutor David Logan said Rafferty had been “predatory, opportunistic and sexually abusive” with his victims.

Rafferty, a construction worker, had denied the allegations.

Lady Rae remanded Rafferty in custody and adjourned the case until next month.

It emerged he has previously been jailed for assault and robbery.

The judge told him: “You have been convicted of very serious charges involving vulnerable women.

“One might take the view that you preyed on them.”

Rafferty once cheated death after plunging from the top tier of Celtic Park.

He hit the headlines in 1999 when he tumbled from the Jock Stein stand at Parkhead during a powderkeg Celtic and Rangers clash – only suffering a broken nose.

Rafferty was captured on TV waving and giving a thumbs up as he was stretchered out from the ground.