Cambuslang man admits two attempted rapes

A Cambuslang man has admitted attempting to rape two women within 40 minutes of each other. David McGurk attacked the 28-year-old woman and a 23-year-old in November last year. Both women were able to get away from him and contact police.

The two incidents took place within five miles of each other between 11pm and 11.40pm and both women were strangers to McGurk. Prosecutor Jo McDonald said: “At 11pm the 28-year-old women took her dog for a walk. She was on her mobile phone to her friend and was approaching an underpass when she became aware of a man to her left hand side who said 'hello'.”

The woman took no notice and kept chatting to her friend, but then became aware of footsteps and someone running behind her. She was dragged to the ground and McGurk ripped her upper clothing and touched her breast. The woman began to scream and McGurk put his hand over her mouth and ordered her to be quiet.

She managed to scratch McGurk's face and draw blood. At one point she begged him: “I won't tell anyone, please let me go,” but McGurk continued to hold her and struggle with her.

At one point he lost his grip and she ran off. As she fled she met her boyfriend who had heard her screaming and ran to help.

The woman was distraught, her clothing was ripped and she could only say “a guy, a guy,” and point towards the underpass.

Her boyfriend ran towards the underpass, but could see no-one there.

The 23-year-old woman was attacked by McGurk, of Jura Terrace, Cambuslang, as she walked back from buying a takeaway at around 11.40pm.

She noticed the accused in front of her and as she passed him said: “Hiya, are you out for a walk tonight.'

McGurk replied: “Am following you” and smacked her on the right cheek with his left hand.

He then grabbed her breasts and tried unsuccessfully to pull her to the ground.

She managed to run away and asked the concierge at a nearby block of flats to phone the police.

Police viewed CCTV in the area of the first attack and saw the accused, with injuries to his face, getting into a taxi just after 11pm.

The police established that he was dropped off at the Whitlawburn area of Cambuslang where the second attack took place.

He was detained shortly after the second attack and when questioned told police: “I don't know what happened. I go crazy on red wine. How are the two girls. Is that me going on the sex offenders' register.”

When he was charged with two counts of attempted rape he said: 'I'm sorry.”

Neither of the women, who were attacked, suffered any physical injury.

Judge Rita Rae deferred sentence on McGurk, who has mild learnng difficulties, until May to determine if he poses a risk to the public.

Lady Rae said: “These were two attempts to rape women unknown to him within less than an hour.”

McGurk has been remanded in custody since the attempted rapes.

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