A CLACKMANNAN man who was convicted for a second time of raping two women was jailed for six years this week.

Andrew Ferguson, who forced his victims to give evidence twice, carried out a catalogue of sexual abuse over a 14-year-period.

At the High Court in Glasgow judge Lord Matthews told him: “You were convicted for a second time of a catalogue of sexual offences against your partners.

“You were originally sentenced to eight years and appealed against sentence. That was successful, there was a retrial and you were convicted once again.

“I can't sentence you to more that eight years because of an appeal court decision and you have spent almost two years in jail before you were released pending a retrial.

“Six years is the maximum I am allowed to impose.”

Ferguson's first conviction was quashed because of a legal technicality and a retrial was ordered by appeal judges.

And after a second trial at the High Court in Glasgow earlier this year the sex attacker was again found guilty.

Ferguson's victims had to relive their ordeal at his hands by giving evidence again.

Ferguson, 37, of Erskine Place, attacked his first victim at the nurses' residence at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, in 2000 before going on to rape another woman years later at houses in Fife.

He denied raping either woman and claimed any sex was consensual.

He was convicted of seven charges including rape and sexual assault.
The crimes took place between 2000 and 2014 and on occasions the women were sleeping when he sexually assaulted them.

Ferguson was placed on the sex offenders register.

Defence counsel John McElroy said: “He has to respect the decision of the jury, but doesn't agree with it.

“He is assessed as being of medium risk of re-offending.”

Ferguson waved to friends and family in the public gallery as he was led away to begin his sentence.