A hotel worker from Fife who caused two women to miscarry pregnancies when he raped them was warned he could face an indeterminate jail sentence.
John Ferrier, 37, compelled one woman to watch footage of females being assaulted, raped, tortured and murdered during his brutal crimes.
Lord Beckett said the rapist had inflicted “serious and persistent violence” on victims and of particular concern was that he had throttled women during assaults.
The judge said: “It is a bullying, controlling and highly dangerous thing to do.”
Prison warning
The judge told Ferrier at the High Court in Edinburgh: “There are very serious features in this case.
“It appears you have a propensity to commit sexual offences.”
Lord Beckett ordered a full risk assessment to be carried out on the sex offender, which can result in the imposition of an Order for Lifelong Restriction.
According to the Scottish Sentencing Council, such an order can be imposed on the worst offenders “where it appears that, because of the nature or circumstances of the offence, there is a likelihood that the offender will in the future seriously endanger the lives, or physical or psychological well-being, of members of the public, if he or she is not in custody.”
A minimum prison term will be set by the judge and the parole board must be satisfied there is no further risk to the public before release can be agreed at the end of that.
Swung golf club and bat at victim
Ferrier, formerly of Warwick Close, Leuchars, had denied a series of charges at an earlier trial but was convicted of seven rape offences, two of assault and two of threatening or abusive behaviour.
The former hotel worker committed the crimes between 2009 and 2015 at various locations in Fife, including in Methil, Leven, Kennoway and Cupar.
One woman told the court she was sexually assaulted days after she had given birth and was still bleeding.
She said: “He just pushed me over the arm of a sofa.
“I tried to get back up but I couldn’t.
“He had his hand on my back and his arm around my waist.”
The 34-year-old woman said she was also subjected to violence and cruel abuse.
She told the court: “He would swing a golf club.
“He would swing a baseball bat at me. It was just to terrify me.”
Caused women to lose children
On one occasion the brute caused her to fall downstairs and she miscarried.
A second woman lost her unborn child after she was pushed and kicked in the stomach by Ferrier.
Lord Beckett told Ferrier that he would return to court on June 20 and said: “At that time I will determine whether to make an Order for Lifelong Restriction or whether there is some other appropriate way to deal with your case.”
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