AN ERSKINE sex predator who indecently assaulted two female fitness instructors before raping one of the women has been jailed.

Paul McFadyen preyed on the younger woman at a community centre in Ayrshire and subjected both to sexual and inappropriate remarks and touched their breasts and buttocks.

He went on to perpetrate a rape on one victim in a vehicle parked up at an industrial estate in Ayrshire and a sexual assault in a car at a layby in Johnstone, in Renfrewshire.

McFadyen, 61, of Park Bank, Erskine, had denied a series of offences during a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, but was found guilty of five charges - one of rape, three of indecent assault and a breach of the peace.

All of the offending occurred between July 2003 and December 2006.

After a jury returned the guilty verdicts McFadyen began clapping during an outburst in the courtroom and proceedings were brought to an end in his absence after the trial judge ordered his removal.

Lady Poole said that McFadyen, who has previous convictions for enticing or attempting to entice teenagers into his car, was convicted of "extremely serious" crimes following the trial.

The court heard that McFadyen had grabbed and pulled the clothing and underwear of the younger fitness instructor who was a teenager at the time.

The other victim was kissed and bitten on the neck, molested and had her lower clothing pulled down by McFadyen.

On one occasion he crept up behind one of the women and pulled down her trousers in front of a 12-year-old boy.

Advocate depute Donald Davidson KC said McFadyen started off making sexualised, inappropriate remarks to the women but then escalated his behaviour into grabbing, gripping and bottom pinching before going on to commit penetrative assaults.

The prosecutor said he seemed to find "some sort of sexual thrill or perverse pleasure in humiliating young women".

Defence counsel Sarah Livingstone said that McFadyen has been suffering from anxiety and depression and made suicide attempts.

Lady Poole deferred sentence on McFadyen for the preparation of a background report and risk assessment.

She remanded him in custody ahead of sentencing next month and placed him on the sex offenders' register.