Man who raped woman in Perthshire faces six years behind bars

A man who subjected a woman to a "cruel and distressing" rape has been jailed for six years.

John McDonald, 35 attacked his victim at a house in Bridge of Earn, Perth, on September 21 in 2017.

McDonald pulled the 29-year-old woman into a bedroom and pushed her onto a bed before assaulting her.

First offender McDonald, a prisoner, had earlier denied the rape, but was convicted after a trial.

A judge told him at the High Court in Edinburgh before jailing him that he had taken into account all that was said on his behalf.

Michael O'Grady QC said: "On any view rape is a grave crime. It is cruel and distressing and humiliating."

The judge added: "You will understand that it is bound to attract a significant sentence of imprisonment."

Defence counsel Simon Gilbride told the court that McDonald adhered to his position.

He said: "He has never been in any kind of trouble before."

The defence counsel said that McDonald had worked for a transport firm and was also previously involved in fostering dogs from a greyhound sanctuary.

But Mr Gilbride acknowledged that McDonald was found guilty of "a very serious charge."

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