Man found guilty of Fife rape

James Gilliard (35) had denied sexually assaulting the 31-year-old after throwing her down a flight of stairs and locking her in a cupboard, keeping her there against her will.

The builder also denied raping a second woman in Inverness in 2010, and committing a breach of peace in the city in 2015, shouting and swearing at a woman.

Following conviction, it emerged that Gilliard had previous convictions for assault and breach of the peace.

Judge Lady Carmichael deferred sentence on Gilliard for the court to obtain reports about his character. She added: “Mr Gilliard, you have been convicted of a number of serious offences.”

Sentence is due in August.