A RAPIST who threatened to rape a woman in front of her young son has been jailed for 12 years.

David Patterson, 52, of Leeds Road, Nelson, forced a woman to go with him to a bedroom and repeatedly raped her, The High Court in Glasgow heard.

He told his terrified victim that unless she did as he said he would rape her in front of the child.

Patterson also crept into another woman's bed as she slept and raped her, the court was told.

His terrified victim woke up to find him on top of her having sex with her.

She screamed at him to stop and hit him with a shoe, but Patterson ignored her pleas for him to stop saying: "I'll just carry on until I finish."

The offences, which were committed in Dumfries, dated back more than 20 years.

Sentencing Patterson judge Lord Hardie told him: "One of the rapes was particularly nasty - although of course all rapes are nasty. You raped this woman under threat that you would rape her in front of her son if she did not do as you wished.

"Your second rape victim woke up to find you on top of her."

Patterson was found guilty of both rape charges.

Patterson was also found guilty of lewd and indecent behaviour towards two girls.

He had denied all the charges against him during a four-day trial at the High Court in Dumfries.

The jury took just over two hours to return its verdict.

Solicitor advocate Bill McVicar, defending, said: "Mr Petterson made his position clear at the trial.

"Over the last 20 years he has been a worthwhile member of society. It is a matter of great regret a man such as that should find himself in this situation."

But Lord Hardie commented: "Not as upset as the victims of his rapes."

Patterson was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register and reported to the Scottish Ministers as unsuitable to work with children.