A SERIAL sex attacker, snared again after a victim learned in the media he had abused other women, has been handed a life sentence.

Gerard Porteous, formerly of Paisley, preyed on the mum during a campaign of terror in the late 1980s and 90s.

It was only in 2016 that the victim bravely reported her ordeal at the hands of the 59 year-old.

Jurors heard this was after a news report of Porteous being jailed for 12 years for a string of other sex attacks.

A probe then revealed he had pounced on another woman while they were alone at his home in 1990.

It lead to Porteous being convicted last year of assault, rape and indecent assault.

He returned to the High Court in Glasgow last week where judge Lord Mulholland hit him with an Order for Lifelong Restriction.

The case had been adjourned for a risk assessment to be carried out on Porteous.

Lord Mulholland told the rapist he must serve at least six years behind bars.

He added: “You have been convicted of serious crimes of violence and rape.

“This involved two victims and you subjected them to horrific ordeals.

“This (six year sentence) is the minimum period and should not be thought as reflecting my view of when you should be released.”

Porteous regularly abused the first victim at a house in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire between 1987 and 1993.

A witness once heard the distressed woman “screeching” so loud, it was thought to have come from an animal.

She was also seen “crying, in a state” with a swollen mouth.

A friend tried to help her escape the clutches of Porteous.

She was ushered away disguised in glasses and a coat to hopefully avoid the abuser seeing her in the street.

But, the court was told he spotted her and again attacked the woman.

Jurors went on to hear how he also raped the frightened victim.

In his closing speech, prosecutor Steven Borthwick said: “She spoke of the way he acted towards her.

“She repeatedly told Porteous she did not want to have sex. She told him 'no', she told him to stop.

“He repeatedly used violence to overcome her will.”

It was years later, the mum plucked up the courage to go to police after she “saw something in the news in 2016” about Porteous.

This was after he was locked up for raping and abusing a number of women between 1994 and 2013.

An investigation found Porteous had also attacked another woman at the house in Coatbridge.

She had initially gone to visit the first victim, who was not in.

Porteous then went to sexually assault her while they were alone.

Mr Borthwick: “Porteous did not say a word. He instead grabbed her and pushed her face against a wall.”

This victim pleaded with him: “No – what are you doing?”

But, Porteous callously replied: “Shut up.”

The woman recalled how she was “numb” and “terrified”.

Mr Borthwick told jurors: “After he was finished, he spat in her face and said: 'Aye, you can go now'.”

Porteous had denied the allegations.

He claimed any sex with the first woman was consensual. Porteous insisted nothing happened with the other victim.

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