A Paisley man has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison after being convicted of multiple sexual assaults.
Jonathan King was convicted at the High Court in Kilmarnock on July 22, 2024, after pleading guilty to eight charges of sexual assault after his victims gave evidence.
The 38-year-old was sentenced to eight years and six months, with 54 months in custody, when he appeared at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday 21 August.
The court heard that King repeatedly followed or approached lone women in the street before sexually assaulting three victims at various locations in Paisley.
His crimes took place between February 2019 and November 2021.
King targeted a 16-year-old girl at Fountain Gardens and Love Street on February 22, 2019.
He approached his victim and put his arm around her before asking for a kiss.
King then seized her by the hair and pursued her as she tried to walk away before sexually assaulting her.
On August 14, 2021, he caused fear or alarm by repeatedly following a number of women in the High Street, Gilmour Street and County Square areas of the town.
On the same day, King targeted another woman and attempted to engage her in conversation.
He then followed her and failed to stop when requested to do so.
On September 23, 2021, King targeted three separate women in the town centre.
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He repeatedly followed one woman and attempted to strike up a conversation with her.
He then assaulted her by grabbing her hand and attempting to force it behind her body.
King then subjected another two victims to sexual assaults after approaching them in the Glen Lane and Fountain Gardens areas.
He admitted breaching bail conditions after being ordered not to physically approach any female who was not a family member, friend or acquaintance except inadvertently in everyday life on November 7, 2021.
Scotland’s Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offending, Katrina Parkes said: “Jonathan King is an opportunistic and dangerous individual who poses a risk to women.
“His victims should have been safe going about their daily business but were instead targeted by this predatory individual.
“His behaviour is truly alarming and has no place in society. I hope this prosecution and conviction brings some comfort to all those affected by his actions.
“I would also urge any other victims of similar offending to speak out. COPFS will do everything in our power to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.”
Jonathan King has been added to the sex offenders register indefinitely, and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also granted for a period of five years.
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