The Justice Secretary has said abolishing the need for evidence in court cases to come from two sources will not help improve rape conviction rates.

However, Kenny MacAskill insisted it is "absolutely right" to do away with a centuries-old requirement for corroboration.

Other countries also had low conviction rates for sex offences, despite not having the requirement to have evidence from two separate sources, he pointed out.

"I am under no illusion that removing the requirement for corroboration will of itself solve the problem of Scotland's low conviction rate for rape. That is why we are working with all our partners to make sure victims of sexual crime have the confidence to come forward," he said.

Mr MacAskill was speaking at a Rape Crisis conference in Glasgow, at which a rape victim called for the requirement for corroboration to be removed from historic cases.

Colette Barrie, who was abused as a girl, waived her right to anonymity to speak out. The case against her abuser collapsed when a second victim decided not to give evidence, she said.

It was "crushing" when the case did not go to court, she said. "I was furious the need for corroboration robbed me of my chance to see him prosecuted. I wanted to tell my story to a jury and I wanted them to believe me. I wanted my abuser to be punished but, above all, I wanted him to know what he did was wrong."