A 'dangerous predator' who carried out a campaign of rape and violence against five women is facing a life sentence.

Patrick Chinskie, 47, raped the women during a litany of horrific abuse conducted throughout Scotland over a 23-year period.

A judge told Chinskie, whose middle name is Savage, at the High Court in Edinburgh: "These crimes form a virtual unbroken chain of offending from 1990 to 2013."

Chinskie was charming when he first met victims but then quickly became "a vicious and evil abuser".

Judge Kenneth Maciver QC said he had been provided with victim impact statements from three of Chinskie's victims.

The judge said a previous report prepared on Chinskie ahead of sentencing had used phrases such as "a dangerous predator who has ruined his victims lives".

He said he had come to the view that a full risk assessment should be carried out on Chinskie which can lead to the making of an Order for Lifelong Restriction.

Chinskie's defence counsel, Gordon Jackson QC, had urged the judge to deal with Chinskie by a determinate sentence with a further period of supervision to give him "a date on the door" for release.

Chinskie, who appeared in court yesterday walking with the aid of a crutch, was earlier convicted of a total of 12 charges including rape, abduction and assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

The judge continued the case until October for the preparation of a risk assessment report and remanded Chinskie in custody.