A VIOLENT sex offender who repeatedly assaulted and raped two women at Clacks addresses has been jailed for nine years.

John Fleeting, 38, subjected both of his victims to ordeals of physical and sexual violence between 2008 and 2015 and was banned from contacting them for 15 years.

A judge told Fleeting, formerly of Marshall Street in Grangemouth, that his crimes were of "considerable gravity" and only a custodial sentence was appropriate.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Fiona Tait also ordered that he should be under supervision for a further three year period when he will be on licence and can be returned to prison if he breaches its terms.

She pointed out that Fleeting was assessed as posing a medium risk of further sexual offending and a high risk of future violent crimes.

She said Fleeting was "a persistent offender" with previous convictions for assault and threatening or abusive behaviour, although sex crimes did not feature on his record.

The judge said the victims of Fleeting should be commended for their courage in giving evidence at his trial.

Fleeting denied a series of charges during a trial last year but was found guilty of three offences of rape and two of assault to injury.

He also admitted a further charge of failing to appear at the High Court in February 2022.

One woman was subjected to assaults by Fleeting between February 2008 and June 2011 at houses in Alloa, Clackmannan, Tullibody and Tillicoultry.

He pushed her down a flight of stairs, repeatedly slapped her, pushed and shook her, throttled her and locked her in a house.

He also repeatedly raped the woman between January 2008 and September 2010 and on one occasion pushed her into a cupboard and locked her in before sexually assaulting and raping her.

Fleeting's second victim was repeatedly attacked by him at addresses in Clackmannanshire and Stirling between October 2013 and October 2015.

He punched her on the head and body, threw her into furniture and gripped her by the throat during the violence.

He also repeatedly punched the woman on the head and body before sexually assaulting and raping her on various occasions between October 2013 and April 2015.

Defence counsel Lorenzo Alonzi said Fleeting has a lengthy criminal record but his offending has reduced significantly in recent years.

He told the court: "He didn't have a particularly easy start in life but he is someone who is capable of holding down a job and there is a history of employment."

The judge made non harassment orders to protect each of the victims and told Fleeting he would be on the sex offenders' register indefinitely following his sentencing.