Newton Stewart attack and rape man convicted

A man has been convicted at the High Court in Glasgow of attacking and raping a woman in Newton Stewart.

Douglas McCleary, 44, committed the offences at a house in the town in August last year.

He had admitted repeatedly punching his 37-year-old victim on the head and body but denied raping her, claiming that the sex had been consensual.

However, a jury convicted him of both offences. Sentence was deferred until next month.

The court heard that during the assault McCleary, a prisoner in Dumfries, prevented the woman from climbing out of a window and threatened to kill her.

The jury was told how the pair met and had gone to a house in Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway.

McCleary became angry and possessive and attacked the woman.

He admitted attacking her, but claimed she also assaulted him.

He claimed that they had then made up and he had told her: "I suppose you want sex."

The jury did not believe his story and convicted him of assault and rape.

Judge Lord Tyre ordered McCleary to be placed on the sex offenders register.

He deferred sentence until next month at the High Court in Edinburgh and told him: "I will be considering a substantial period of imprisonment when I come to pass sentence."