A MAN released early from his second jail sentence for rape went on to rape a third woman while out on licence.

David Beattie raped his latest victim on November 20 last year.

Beattie repeatedly told the 36-year-old woman that she was "gorgeous" as he attacked her at the Clydeside Walkway at the Broomielaw in Glasgow.

Two women who were passing by heard the victim's cries for help and scared Beattie off before calling the police.

At the High Court in Glasgow yesterday, Judge Lord McEwan told the 38-year-old: "You are plainly a danger to women."

Lord McEwan also called for a risk assessment to be prepared on Beattie before passing sentence on him.

Advocate depute Douglas Fairley, prosecuting, told the court that Beattie had two previous convictions for rape.

He first carried out an attack in 1993 and was jailed for three years after being convicted.

Then, in 2004, he struck again and was jailed for a further eight years.

He was also ordered to be monitored in the community for a further five years on his release.

Beattie – who has a total of 11 previous convictions – was released from this sentence early in 2008.

Mr Fairley added: "He was out on licence at the time of this offence and has been recalled to prison."

The prosecutor asked the judge to consider imposing a lifelong restriction order on Beattie, which would mean he would be monitored for the rest of his life.

The court heard that minutes after Beattie launched his latest attack, an off-duty woman police officer and her female friend were walking past.

His victim pleaded for them to intervene and shouted: "Help, help, I'm being raped."

Beattie released his victim as the two passers-by approached.

One of the two women comforted the victim while the other followed Beattie and telephoned police.

Throughout the trial, Beattie denied raping the woman and claimed that sex was consensual, but jurors refused to believe him and convicted him by a majority verdict. In evidence his tearful victim revealed how he kept saying "You're gorgeous" as he carried out the attack.

The court was told that the woman, a prostitute, had agreed to have oral sex with Beattie for £20, but refused to have sexual intercourse with him.

Beattie refused to accept this and then raped her.

Lord McEwan deferred sentence on the rapist until April and told him: "The jury has convicted you of the crime of rape on this woman. You are not of good character.

"You have 11 previous convictions and have appeared on three occasions at the High Court, on two of these occasions for the crime of rape."

Defence QC Ian Duguid said: "Mr Beattie was released on licence on August 26, 2008. His licence expires in August 2016."

Rape Crisis Scotland said that public safety must be considered key when looking at the early release of prisoners.

Sandy Brindley, national co-ordinator for Rape Crisis Scotland, said: "We believe that the priority in any sentencing and decision-making about early release in rape cases must be public safety."

Sandy Cameron, the chairman of the Scottish Parole Board, claimed earlier this week that public safety was the board's "number one consideration".

He said: "The vast majority of those released on parole abide by their licence conditions and stay on the right side of the law."