A REPEAT sex offender was jailed for 12 years yesterday after a terrified 14-year-old girl was saved from rape by her mother's screams.
Former fisherman Cameron Steele, 33, was intent on raping the schoolgirl when he woke her at knifepoint as she slept in her bed.
Lord Bonomy told Steele at the High Court in Edinburgh: ''Your record indicates that for a long time you have posed a threat to women.''
Steele, of Barra Crescent, Fraserburgh, had twice been convicted of indecent assault, and the court heard that one of his earlier crimes had involved abduction.
Steele admitted entering a house in Fraserburgh on October 4 last year and assaulting the girl with intent to rape her, after cutting the phone line.
Advocate depute Peter Gray said the victim was asleep in bed, in the room next to her parents.
Steele, who was wearing gloves, put a hand over her mouth and put a knife to her throat. Mr Gray said: ''She felt the sharp point of it pressing against her throat.''
The intruder warned her: ''Just you be quiet or you will get this.''
Steele remained silent as he removed the girl's nightclothes.
Mr Gray said: ''At that point the girl's mother, having been awakened, came into the room, and started screaming at the accused.''
Steele bolted out of the bedroom, pushing the mother aside.
Mr Gray said the girl continues to suffer nightmares and a fear of the dark.
Defence counsel Jack Davidson QC said that Steele is remorseful for the offence, and by pleading guilty had spared his victim having to relive the ordeal as a witness.
He said that Steele had no recollection of the offence, he had been drinking prior to it.
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