Man who raped woman in Helensburgh and sexually assaulted woman at Stirling Travelodge jailed

A hairdresser who raped a young woman and gave her nightmares has been sentenced to more than four years in prison.

Mason Ferry carried out two attacks on the victim in a house in Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute.

The 22-year-old also abused another woman in a Travelodge hotel in Stirling.

Ferry was sentenced by the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday after previously being convicted of the crimes.

The crimes occurred between 2018 and 2021.

Judge Douglas Brown imprisoned him for a total of four years and three months.

Ferry, from Garelochhead, also in Argyll and Bute, will remain on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

Jurors heard the rape victim describe how she felt “used and worthless” after the attack.

The young woman who was harassed in the hotel was said to have been “frightened” and demanded that the ferry stop.

She too was moved to tears by the ordeal.

Defence lawyer Edith Forrest KC said a pre-sentence report focused on Ferry's “continued denial of the charges”.

The lawyer stated that Ferry was a trained hairdresser but had most recently worked in a distillery on the Isle of Mull.

Ms Forrest said: “I can say that he was able to express empathy and insight towards victims of sexual offences.

“He is aware of this, but of course he continues to deny everything.”

Judge Brown also imposed a restraining order prohibiting Ferry from having any contact with the two women and a third person he called in violation of bail conditions.

At the sentencing, he told Ferry: “Both victims of the sex crimes have made statements describing how your conduct continues to impact many aspects of their lives.”

“They caused (the first) to fall into depression and she still has flashbacks and vivid nightmares.

“The second one continues to have difficulty maintaining relationships because of the way you treated her.”