Renfrew man jailed for multiple rapes

A Renfrew man who raped eight woman over a 13-year-period has been jailed for 15 years.

33-year-old Graeme Brown’s victims included ex-lovers and casual partners.

At the High Court in Glasgow Judge Tom Hughes told Brown: “You have been convicted of vile sexual offences.”

Judges Hughes ordered Brown to be monitored in the community for three years after his release from prison and placed him on the sex offenders' register.

Brown, who continues to protest his innocence, claimed in evidence he was the victim.

One of his victims told the High Court in Glasgow during the trial that she told Brown she did not want to have sex with him. He just ignored her and carried on.

The victim took to social media to challenged Brown about his behaviour.

Brown was convicted of the rapes which took place between February 2003 and July 2016 and an indecent assault on a man.

Judge Hughes said “I think it’s appropriate to pay tribute to the fact in very difficult circumstances the witnesses have come to court and have given their evidence in a very dignified way.”

The court heard from Brown’s victims about attacks he subjected them to in Erskine, Linwood and Paisley.

One woman recalled being held captive in Brown’s home over three days and being raped during that time.

She said Brown presented a gun at her while she was there, and that she only managed to escape when a friend came to the house to rescue her.

In a joint minute read to the court it was heard what she described as a gun was in fact a cigarette lighter.

A man gave evidence that Brown indecently assaulted him during a sexual encounter with him, and another female.

Defence QC John Scullion said: “He continues to deny the offences. I make no criticism of the complainers but many gave evidence about their willingness to experiment sexually. Many of the victims were involved in a social scene in which there was casual sex and experimental sex."

Brown showed no emotion as he was led away to begin his sentence.