Serial rapist who attacked one woman 900 times jailed

A man who raped three women and targeted one victim more than 900 times treated his victims as 'chattels and punchbags', a court has heard.

Serial abuser Brian McTaggart from Dundee, who was found guilty of 23 violent and sexual offences over a period of 24 years, will serve a minimum of eight years and has been given an order of lifelong restriction. Picture: Police Scotland/PA Wire

Brian McTaggart was given a life sentence for a catalogue of terror over almost a quarter of a century.

McTaggart was convicted last September of preying on a total of 18 victims.

The crimes occurred mainly in Dundee between 1980 and 2001.

Sentencing had been delayed after prosecutors moved to have him hit with an Order for Lifelong Restriction due to the danger he posed.

A 53 year-old woman recalled how she was raped by McTaggart, 54, almost daily for six years.

This included attacking her shortly after she had given birth.

He told her he should not be deprived of sex because “she had a bairn”.

Jurors further heard he dropped a hair dryer into her bath and also kicked her down a flight of stairs.

The woman said after the attacks McTaggart would claim he was sorry.

She added: “He was always full of apologies and buying me flowers.”

Another rape victim was attacked while she was sleeping.

When she awoke and pleaded ‘no’, McTaggart simply replied: “You belong to me. I can do anything I want.”

This controlling attitude was described as belonging to the “stone age” by judge Lord Mulholland.

Another woman was raped and had her head plunged under water.

McTaggart was also found guilty of indecently assaulting girls and boys.

He was further convicted of physically abusing other women and teenagers.

One of these victims – now a 30 year-old man – described McTaggart as “being possessed by the devil”

The court heard one woman had previously been the victim of domestic violence.

She actually met McTaggart while attending a group to help her with what happened.

The woman instead also ended up suffering at the hands of McTaggart.

McTaggart admitted at his trial that he had “done a lot wrong” - but denied being a rapist.

He insisted he was the victim of a “witch-hunt”.

But, prosecutor Mark McGuire told his trial: “McTaggart was only interested in domination, humiliation and sexual gratification.”

At the High Court in Glasgow Lord Mulholland gave McTaggart an Order for Lifelong Restriction and said he must serve a minimum of eight years behind bars.

The judge told him victims were treated as “punchbags and chattels” with many being “beaten into submission”.

He added: “Women are not there to be physically and sexually abused. It is time for you to be sentenced for these crimes.”

McTaggart shook his head as he was lead to the cells.