'Good Samaritan' raped by convict

A rapist freed early from prison has been jailed for seven years for raping a woman who went to his aid.

Alan Mullen, 45, from Irvine, North Ayrshire, pleaded guilty to raping the 36-year-old woman at his flat.

At the time of the attack, on 5 April, he was out of prison on licence after serving part of a four-year sentence for rape, imposed in 2003.

The court heard Mullen's victim had gone to his flat to help him after he had been assaulted.

Sentencing him, at the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lord Macphail said: "On this occasion your victim came to your assistance after you had been assaulted.

"After rendering you assistance, you prevented her from leaving the flat, forced her to the floor and struggled with her while she was shouting and screaming.