A CONVICTED rapist who is 'still in denial' of his crimes against women in Greenock and elsewhere over almost a decade has been jailed for eight years.
A jury found Andrew Stewart guilty of five indictment charges at the end of July and the 32-year-old appeared via video link for a sentencing hearing at the High Court in Paisley yesterday.
The sex offender targeted two victims between 2009 - when he was just 18 - and 2018 at addresses in Gourock, Greenock, Paisley and Glasgow.
He sexually assaulted one female twice - in 2009 and again in 2011.
On another occasion he straddled the woman, repeatedly pinned her hands above her head, removed her lower clothing and raped her in Greenock shortly before Christmas in 2011.
Stewart committed his second rape against another woman at a business premises in Glasgow in 2016.
He was found guilty of a further charge which stated that on various occasions between 2017 and 2018 he sexually assaulted and raped a woman whilst she was asleep and incapable of giving or withholding consent.
Stewart had also been accused of assaulting a woman in Greenock by seizing her and holding her in front of him and causing her to be struck by another man, however, he was found not guilty on this charge.
The jury also cleared him of another alleged rape and three other alleged sexual assaults which were said to have been committed in 2018 and 2019.
Defence advocate Simon Gilbride told this week's hearing: "It is difficult for one to confront something where the accused person is still in denial of it.
"It is really a matter for Mr Stewart himself to address these issues as early as possible in order for the interventions to be effective."
Mr Gilbride told the court that Stewart has been in a relationship 'for a number of years' since the offences took place, adding: "That may suggest that he is someone who is growing up and becoming more responsible as the years go on.
"It does appear that he is capable of forming a relationship and being in a relationship.
"His family supports his current position of denial, which is unhelpful."
The advocate questioned whether an extended sentence - to include a period of supervision upon his release from prison - would be 'beneficial' to Stewart as he is a first offender.
Temporary Judge Sean Murphy KC said: "An extended sentence must be considered not so much for his benefit but for the protection of the public."
Addressing Stewart through the TV screens, the judge said: "You have been convicted by a jury of five offences of significant gravity, including three counts of rape.
"The gravity is such that a custodial sentence is inevitable.
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"Both complainers ought to have been safe and secure in your company, but that was not the case.
"You have reached the age of 32 with no previous convictions, you have been in a relationship for four years with no suggestion of any difficulty. You had a successful career as a tattoo artist and have no alcohol or drug issues, so I take these factors into account."
Stewart was sentenced to a total of eight years in prison, backdated to July 31.
A 10-year non-harassment order was also imposed and he will be subject to sex offender notification requirements for an indefinite period.
The judge decided against imposing an extended sentence.
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