GREENOCK MAN GUILTY OF BRUTAL RAPE AT A PARTY
A GREENOCK man is today beginning a five year jail sentenced for the brutal rape of a woman at a party.William McClure, 28, of Killearn Road, was found guilty of pinning his victim to a bed before carrying out the terrifying assault within a house in Millar Street, Greenock, while other revellers continued to party downstairs.
He subjected the woman to a terrifying ordeal and was later convicted of rape at the High Court in Glasgow in June.
This week he was told by Judge Norman Ritchie QC at Edinburgh High Court that he would be locked up for the prolonged attack.
McClure's legal team had asked for leniency and the imposition of a sentence that would avoid custody, but this was rebuffed by Judge Ritchie.
The court heard how the attack took place within a bedroom of a house after McClure followed the woman upstairs.
The brave victim's family have spoken out about her nightmare - and said the brute should have been locked up for longer.
A family member told the Tele: "It is not long enough but at least some kind of justice has been done after what he put her through.
We wanted him locked up for longer, but we have to accept the judge's decision and concentrate on supporting her." McClure's refusal to accept his guilt meant the shaken victim had to give evidence of her harrowing ordeal during the two day trial.
The family member added: "We just hope now that she can move on with her life and piece it back together." She has been to hell and back since it happened in June.
She has been through such a lot but hopefully this will bring some closure.
McClure was convicted of placing his hands on the victim's shoulders and kissing her on her face and neck before repeatedly attempting to kiss her on the night in question.
A jury found that he then pushed her backwards causing her to fall on to a bed within the house, before pinning her down and pulling off her clothing.
McClure then sexually assaulted his terrified victim, before raping her, on June 17 last year.
The offence was contrary to Section 1 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009.
Rapist will now lose his job THE Tele can also reveal that the rapist is also set to lose his job as a result of his High Court conviction.
McClure, who works as an engineer with ScottishPower, has been suspended after bosses at the energy firm were notified of the jury's decision.
A ScottishPower spokesperson said: "William McClure was suspended from the company the instant that we were made aware of his conviction.
Disciplinary and dismissal proceedings have now been initiated.
As with any employer we are required to follow legally binding disciplinary processes."
