A violent rapist has been jailed for assaulting and abusing three woman and a child.

Alastair Nicolson was found guilty of a number of offences that took place between January 1991 and April 2001 on the isles of Bute and Skye.

He was convicted after a trial at the High Court in Inverness on May 22, 2024.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said the 55-year-old subjected one woman to repeated beatings.

He would pull her hair, punch her in the head, call her derogatory names and threaten her with a knife, hammer and scissors.

Nicolson also struck her on the body with a fire poker and a coal bucket before choking her.

He was also convicted of raping a woman on various occasions.

He was found to have used lewd, indecent, and libidinous practices and behaviour towards a young girl. Nicolson then raped the child, who was under the age of 16.

The abuser violently assaulted a third female including seizing her by the neck and threatening to hit her. His fourth victim was repeatedly punched and kicked. He stubbed a cigarette out on her body, head butted her and slapped her on the face, all to her injury. In a separate attack, Nicolson broke the woman’s tooth, caused her to fall to the ground, stamped on her head and threatened to kill her. At the High Court in Edinburgh on July 19, he was jailed for 14 years and he will be on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

He will also be forever banned from any contact with three victims.

Scotland’s Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offending, Katrina Parkes said: “Alastair Nicolson is a dangerous, controlling and violent individual who inflicted unimaginable trauma on the women he targeted. “His prolific offending has now been ended thanks to the courage of his victims who reported him to the authorities.

“I hope this conviction brings them some comfort that he is being held accountable for his actions. “I urge any victims of similar crime to have confidence that time is no barrier.  Please come forward, report it and seek support.”