A HIGH Court judge has praised two women for their courage in giving evidence against a man who sexually abused them and left them with continuing trauma.

Callum Rainey, 27, raped one woman and sexually assaulted another at locations in Saltcoats and East Kilbride between September 2020 and August 2021. 

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Rainey was convicted of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault charges following a trial in Paisley last month. 

Rainey, a prisoner of HMP Low Moss in Bishopbriggs, Dunbartonshire, denied any wrongdoing.

But jurors refused to believe his claims and convicted him after hearing evidence from his victims. 

On Monday, judge Fiona Tait praised the women for their bravery in the moments before she jailed Rainey for eight years and ordered him to be supervised by the authorities for two years. 

Passing sentence, she said: “The Victim Impact statement tells of how they suffer on going trauma, panic attacks and social anxiety as a consequence of your actions. 

“They are to be commended for coming forward and giving evidence against you and sharing the information contained within the Victim Impact Statement. 

“Given the gravity of your offending, it is clear that a custodial disposal must follow.”

At proceedings last month, a jury heard how Rainey attempted to rape his first victim at a home in Saltcoats some time between September 1 2020 and November 2020. He also sexually assaulted the woman.

The court also heard that Rainey raped another woman in East Kilbride some time between August 24 and 25, 2021. 

The jury heard heard how during this attack, Rainey seized the woman by her throat and restricted her breathing before carrying out the serious sexual assault. 

Both women, who cannot be named for legal reasons, gave evidence against their assailant at the trial and provided the judge with a statement about how the ordeals had affected them. 

On Monday, defence solicitor advocate Paul Mullen told the court his client struggled with alcohol and that had contributed to his offending behaviour.

He said: “Callum Rainey is still a relatively young man, aged 27. In his discussions with me, he has shared some insight into his offending. 

“He realises that he will have to, in due course, address his alcohol problem, and he will have to tackle that upon his release.”

Judge Tait also placed Rainey, who observed proceedings via video link from jail, on the sex offenders register for life.