A VILE sex predator who subjected a girl to a rape ordeal before later attacking her when she was an expectant mother has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

Joseph Glass used violence and threats against children and a woman during a catalogue of sexual offending against his victims.

The despicable 68-year-old raped a woman while she asleep at a house in Clackmannan and in separate assaults grabbed her by the throat and held a knife to her neck.

He also preyed on one girl from the age of 11 and subjected her to indecent assaults when he lifted her up and sexually touched her.

A second girl was subjected to indecency offences by Glass between 1998 and 2003, beginning when she was aged just eight.

He molested the child at a house in Clackmannan, and in a nearby woods, and carried out sex acts on her and on himself.

Glass also raped the victim on an occasion when she was 10 or 11 and grabbed her and took off her lower clothing.

The woman, now aged 28, said that her sexual abuse ended when she was aged about 13 but told the High Court in Edinburgh that she did not know why it stopped.

Nevertheless, the wretched Glass also assaulted her while she was expecting a child.

She said she later visited a house in Engelen Drive, Alloa, and Glass had come in from the pub leaving a pet dog terrified.

The woman told the court: "He grabbed me and punched me in the stomach. I was pregnant with my wee girl at that point."

She agreed that in 2010 she spoke to the police, but said she did not want the past dragged up.

She told officers that she knew it was about what had happened to her when she was 10, but said: "I don't want this to go any further. I don't want to talk about it."

But the woman said she tried to take her own life and became involved with mental health services and was urged to come forward to report what had happened to her.

Glass had denied a string of charges during a trial, but was found guilty of eight crimes including two charges of rape, indecent assault, indecent conduct, assault and uttering threats of violence, all committed between 1998 and 2007.

The trial judge, Lady Clark of Calton, told the pensioner: "You have been convicted of very serious offences."

Advocate depute John Scott QC also told the court that Glass had previously been jailed at the High Court in 2012 for similar offending.

He abused two children between February 1988 and September 1990 in Alloa.

One of his victims came forward in 2010 and the paedophile was later jailed for five years in August 2012.

On Thursday, September 20, the animal was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Detective Constable Ruth Thomson of Forth Valley’s Public Protection Unit said: “Glass is a predator who attacked and threatened three teenaged girls, without any concern for their welfare.

“Glass has now been held to account for his actions and I would like to thank his victims for their continued support and cooperation throughout this investigation. I hope that this sentencing will allow them to move forward with their lives.

“Police Scotland treats all reports of sexual crime with the utmost seriousness, regardless of when the offences occurred. We will investigate the matter thoroughly and professionally, fully supported by partner agencies to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.”