"Dangerous individual" jailed for subjecting victims to 23 years of sexual abuse
George MacDonald will be behind bars for a decade and will spend the rest of his life on the sex offenders register
A rapist who subjected women to a campaign of controlling, violent and sexual abuse over the course of 23 years has been jailed.
George McDonald was found guilty of 10 charges involving three women on July 29 following a trial at the High Court in Paisley.
The 43-year-old targeted his victims at various locations in the Argyll and Bute area.
He subjected his first victim to repeated violent attacks including hitting her with a piece of wood, pointing a gun at her and lifting her up by her ears.
McDonald also struggled with the woman outside a pub before opening the bonnet of her car and removing wires from the engine, preventing her from driving it.
He was convicted of verbally and physically abusing his second victim on various occasions including an incident where he drove away leaving her without transport.
The abuser controlled his third victim by tracking her movements, breaking her phones, reading her messages and coercing her to share her social media accounts.
He threatened to kill her and her parents as well as repeatedly assaulting her, including hitting her on the head and dragging her to the ground.
The abuser was also convicted of raping two of the women on various occasions.
On September 5, 2024, at the High Court in Edinburgh, McDonald was given a 14 year extended sentence, with 10 years in custody.
His name has been added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.
Non-harassment orders, banning McDonald from contacting or attempting to contact his victims, were also granted for an indefinite period.
Scotland’s Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offending, Katrina Parkes said:
“George McDonald is a dangerous individual who subjected his victims to unimaginable trauma and abuse over a number of years.
“It is thanks to the bravery of these women giving evidence that this prosecution has been possible.
“I hope this conviction brings some comfort while sending a message that this type of offending has no place in Scotland.
“I would urge any victim of similar crime to report it and seek support. You will be listened to and we will use every tool available in seeking justice.”