A PERVERT who raped a 15-year-old girl and sexually assaulted other victims was today jailed for seven years.

Ross Houghton, 27, began a catalogue of sex offences against females in 2010 and continued to target them until 2017.

His first victim was just 15 when he attacked her at a house in Erskine, pinning her down on a bed and raping her.

Houghton went on to send sexual messages to a 14-year-old girl through Facebook.

He also sexually assaulted a woman at an address in Glasgow in 2016 by putting his hand in her pants while she was under the influence of drink and drugs.

In other attacks, Houghton sexually assaulted a woman at a fast food restaurant at Braehead shopping centre, in Renfrew, by molesting her and hitting her buttocks.

Houghton, formerly of Erskine, denied a string of charges as he went on trial but was convicted of seven offences, including rape, sexual assault and indecent communication with an underage child.

Sentencing him at the High Court in Edinburgh today, judge Lady Haldane said that, given the seriousness of his offences, there was no alternative other than a "significant" prison term.

She added that she took into account the fact Houghton appeared as a first offender and a background report stated he had expressed regret for the distress caused to some of his victims.

Lady Haldane told him: "You have been identified as a medium risk of sexual re-offending."

Defence counsel Edward Targowski QC said that Houghton had described his convictions for the offences as "life changing."

He added: "It is clear that he wishes to engage in intervention work to address his behaviour."

Houghton was told he would be on the Sex Offenders Register for an indefinite period.

His name has also been added to a list of persons deemed unsuitable to work with vulnerable groups.