An Inverness teenager who raped an underage girl and abused a young woman with learning difficulties has been sent to prison.
Connor MacKinnon, 19, targeted the two females, who cannot be named for legal reasons, between December 2017 and August 2018.
The high court heard how MacKinnon sexually assaulted his first victim at a cinema and a church in Inverness.
MacKinnon, a prisoner of YOI Polmont, then raped his second victim at a homeless unit in the city.
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The pervert was snared after detectives became aware of his activities and gathered enough evidence to bring him to justice.
Yesterday, at the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lord Burns gave MacKinnon a four year three month jail term for the rape.
Lord Burns also handed MacKinnon two years six months for one of the sexual assaults and two years for the other sexual assault.
Ordering the sentences to be served concurrently with the rape disposal, Lord Burns also told MacKinnon he’d be supervised by the authorities for three years following his release from custody.
Lord Burns added: “Your insight into your offending is highly limited and the court has no other option but to take a very serious view of your offending behaviour.
“You leave the court with no other option but to impose a custodial sentence. And once you are released from custody, you will be carefully monitored by the authorities with proper boundaries which will be put in place.”
MacKinnon pleaded guilty to one charge of rape and two charges of sexual assault shortly before his trial was due to start.
Yesterday, defence solicitor advocate John Keenan told the court that his client had gained an insight into his wrong doing. Mr Keenan asked Lord Burns to take this into account when passing sentence.
But Lord Burns told him there was no other option but to impose custody.
He added: “You have pleaded guilty to very serious offences.”
A spokesman for NSPCC Scotland said: “MacKinnon is clearly a dangerous and predatory abuser whose attacks will have had a devastating impact on his victims.
“It’s vital that he receives effective treatment behind bars to reduce any continued risk he may pose on his release.
“NSPCC Scotland works in schools and in the community to prevent abuse and neglect and anyone worried about a child or about past abuse can contact our helpline to report concerns.”