A RAPIST who went AWOL was hauled back into the dock on Monday after being traced.

David McCue returned to the High Court in Glasgow two months after he was convicted there in his absence.

The 40-year-old was found guilty of repeated attacks on a woman in the city's Townhead and Barlanark including while she was asleep.

He was further convicted of sexually assaulting a girl.

MORE CRIME STORIES: Police issue update after body of man found in square

The charges spanned between 2010 and 2018.

McCue had been on bail for his trial but disappeared as it reached the latter stages before a warrant was granted for his arrest.

He was not present when jurors returned guilty verdicts to four charges.

Unsuccessful attempts were made to locate the rapist.

Police Scotland then issued an appeal late last month in a bid to find him.

McCue - who also used the surname Ross - was eventually arrested last week.

Now sporting a beard, he appeared from custody for a short hearing to formally answer the warrant.

He was also finally put on the sex offender list, which could not be done after conviction as he had to be in court.

MORE CRIME STORIES: Rapist cut woman's underwear with machete

His lawyer Rosalyn McTaggart asked for the case to be continued for McCue to be sentenced by trial judge Olga Pasportnikov next month in Inverness.

No information was given as to where McCue was during his weeks on the run.

Lord Fairley - who presided over the hearing - told McCue: "You were convicted in your absence.

"A warrant was granted and you were apprehended on that.

"Sentencing will take place (next month) and you will remain in custody until that date."