Violent Lanarkshire rapist jailed for nine years after making victims' lives 'utterly miserable'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A violent rapist who made his victims' lives "utterly miserable" during a catalogue of abuse was today jailed for nine years.Christopher James throttled women and put a pillow over the head of one victim and applied pressure during attacks.The landscape gardener also raped both of his victims and sexually assaulted one of them with a carrot.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android A judge told the 39-year-old at the High Court in Edinburgh: "You subjected both women to sustained physical, emotional and sexual abuse."Lord Richardson said that physical assaults perpetrated by James had posed a threat to the lives of his victims.The judge said: "It was apparent to me from the evidence which I saw from both of these women, together with a careful consideration of the victim impact statements which both women have prepared, that for a prolonged period of time you must have made their lives traumatic and utterly miserable."Lord Richardson said that a background report prepared on James assessed him as posing "a very high risk" of similar offending in future.He said he took into account James' own difficult background but added: "As you will surely recognise a lengthy period in custody is the only appropriate sentence I can pass to reflect your appalling conduct."The judge also ordered that the rapist should be