Sex attacker, snared by teenage victim's Father, jailed

A sex predator snared after his victim's father caught him attacking his daughter has been jailed for more than two years. Marcus Donald pounced on the frightened 15 year-old after following her off a bus in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire.

Donald struck just a short distance from the schoolgirl's home.

A judge heard how her panic-stricken dad heard her screams and immediately raced out.

Donald was soon held and appeared for sentencing at the High Court in Glasgow.

The 25 year-old first offender had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of assault with intent to rape.

Lord Burns jailed him for two years and four months. He also ordered him to be monitored for a further two years on his release.

The judge said: “You carried out a terrifying attack on a 15 year-old girl at night.

“You resorted to violence to try and rape her. It was fortunate her parents were close by and could go to her assistance.”

Donald, also of East Kilbride, will be on the sex offenders list indefinitely.

The attack happened after the girl had been out with friends on May 25.

Donald was on the same bus and went to ask the teenager: “Can I get your number?”

The girl felt “uneasy” and ignored the dad-of-one.

But, when she got off, Donald followed her.

The young victim tried to walk faster, but Donald grabbed her and shoved the girl to the ground.

The teenager pleaded with her attacker as he tugged at her leggings.

Prosecutor Jim Keegan QC said: “She shouted: 'please don't'. She started to scream for her parents. She happened to be only two minutes from her house.”

Donald then punched the girl who continued to cry for help.

Mr Keegan added: “Her parents heard and ran outside. Her father saw Donald standing over his daughter attempting to pull at her leggings.

“He shouted at Donald, who then ran off.”

The schoolgirl was described as “extremely frightened” following her ordeal

Donald was later identified from CCTV where he was spotted near to the girl on the bus.

It also emerged he had called a taxi after the attack. The driver recalled him being “breathless” as he got in his cab.

Lord Burns said the sentence would have been three and a half years, but for the guilty plea.