A SEX attacker from Greenock gave a woman a drug and waited until she was unconscious before pulling down her clothing and assaulting her.

Multiple offender William Greer is today behind bars after being handed a four-year sentence for the sickening assault he carried out at a flat in Neil Street.

The 48-year-old pervert supplied the woman with hydroxyzine – a prescription-only antihistamine which can cause drowsiness – before lying beside her on a bed.

Greer proceeded to expose his victim’s breasts and grope her while she was under the influence of the drug.

He had also been charged with pulling down the woman’s lower clothing and further assaulting her, but this was removed from the indictment by a jury.

His lawyer told Greenock Sheriff Court: “It is very difficult to put forward any explanation for this behaviour.

“Mr Greer has a chronic and ingrained alcohol problem.

“He denies wrongdoing but accepts that drink was taken and that he is not able to put forward any reason or explanation for what he has been convicted of.” 

Greer, of Dempster Street, assaulted the woman on August 18 last year.

He has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and told that he must serve two years in prison before being released on licence for a further two years.

Sheriff Derek Hamilton told Greer: “The jury convicted you of an amended charge, which was very much watered down from the original charge.

“However, it remains a conviction for supplying a drug to the complainer and once the complainer was asleep, due probably to the drug, you sexually assaulted her.

“Even now you don’t explain how your DNA was on her breasts. You took advantage of an unconscious woman.”

Sheriff Hamilton added: “I am conscious of the horror of the complainer when she woke up to find her clothing pulled down and her breasts exposed. Only custody can be considered here.

“You are a violent and dangerous man with a number of convictions for weapons offences and assaults.

“I have to ensure that the public is adequately protected.”

Greer was found guilty of sexually assaulting his victim. He was told that if he breaches the terms of his licence following the custody part of his sentence, he will face the prospect of being returned to prison.