A CONVICTED sex offender has admitted dragging a 20-year-old student into woodland and raping her at knifepoint.

John Ryan, 35, pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to raping the woman at Castle Gate, Uddingston, on March 24.

Ryan, of Farm Court, Bothwell, pounced as his victim - a complete stranger - walked along the street just before 10pm.

Advocate depute Mark McGuire, prosecuting, said: "The accused put one hand over her mouth and the other across her chest and turned her round. He was holding a folding pocket knife and held it up at her."

The court heard that the victim offered Ryan her handbag and begged him to leave her alone, but he told her: "Come with me."

The court heard that Ryan, who has a previous conviction for an indecent assault on a woman who was a stranger to him in 2004, ignored his victim's pleas and raped her, before leaving.

The woman telephoned the police and CCTV footage showing Ryan following her was seized by police.

An appeal was launched to find him and footage was released to the media along with an appeal for information to help catch him.

Police also interviewed numerous registered sex offenders in the area, including the accused.

Officers taking a statement from him noted that he appeared unduly agitated and strongly resembled the man in the CCTV footage.

DNA samples taken from the woman's breast and mouth were examined and matched that of the accused.

Defence advocate Louise Arrol will give her plea in mitigation later.

Judge Lord Burns told Ryan: "In view of the nature of the offence and your offending history I require background information to assess the risk you pose."

He ordered Ryan, who is a prisoner in Barlinnie, to remain on the sex offender's register.