A RUGBY player who was given probation for attempted rape is facing a life sentence after being convicted of raping another two women.
Jamie Rudling, 27, was handed three years’ probation in March 2010 after he attempted to have non-consensual sex with a sleeping woman.
The High Court in Edinburgh also heard that Rudling was also jailed for 28 months at Ayr Sheriff Court in November 2011 for persuading two teenage girls to expose themselves over a web cam.
Now, Rudling, of Sandbank, Argyll, is facing the prospect of spending the rest of his life behind bars after being convicted of attacking another two women.
A jury found him guilty of repeatedly raping a young woman between 2003 and 2011.
The court heard how the female, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was just 10-years-old when he started attacking her at an address in Argyll.
The jury also convicted Rudling of raping another 22-year-old woman – who must also remain anonymous – on October 25, 2014 at a location in Argyll.
Both his victims gave evidence about their ordeals.
Speaking after the verdict, Judge Lord Uist deferred sentence for the court to obtain a risk assessment report for Rudling.
If specialist social workers think Rudling is a threat to public safety, they could recommend that he is given an Order for Lifelong Restriction.
An Order for Lifelong Restriction means that only the parole board can decide when an offender is released from prison.
Deferring sentence, Lord Uist described Rudling’s behaviour as “serious”.
He added: “This is a man who has already been convicted in the High Court of attempting to rape another woman and he has been convicted of other sexual offences.
“He has now been convicted of the repeated rape of a woman and the rape of another woman. It is extremely serious.
“I have to see how dangerous he is.”
Rudling, a former rugby player, was handed community service and three years’ probation for attempting to rape a woman at an address in Dunoon in September 2007.
A jury at the High Court in Perth heard how the former sports performance student assaulted his victim.
The court heard how the woman had gone to bed while Rudling and her boyfriend were drinking in another room.
Later, Rudling went to the bedroom where his victim slept and attacked her.
Judge Lady Clark of Calton gave Rudling probation after he he “expressed remorse and recognised the effect” his conduct had on his victim.
However, in March 2011, Rudling appeared at Ayr Sheriff Court and was jailed for grooming two 14-year-old girls, who lived in the town and nearby Prestwick.
Between December 1 2010 and May 1 2011, Rudling persuaded the females, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, to expose themselves over a web cam.
He arranged to meet with one of the girls at Braehead shopping centre in Renfrewshire to have
sex.
Sheriff Norman McFadyen jailed Rudling for 28 months.
He was also jailed at the High Court in Edinburgh in November 2011 for breaching his probation.
At the end of the trial yesterday, Lord Uist deferred sentence until January 12 at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Defence advocate Lewis Kennedy is expected to address the court on this occasion.
Speaking after Rudling was taken from the court to the court cells, Lord Uist thanked the jurors for their care and attention.
He added: “It has been a very unpleasant case.”
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