Greenock graveyard rapist Paul Sinclair is back on the streets

Andrew McIntyre decided that a 'lengthy period of close supervision' was the best way to 'protect the public' from a man who is already on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Dangerous Sinclair, 29, raped a woman in his car within Greenock Cemetery six years ago, and he also has convictions for having sex with an underage girl and assault to injury.

The girlfriend — whom he admitted last month to subjecting to threatening and abusive behaviour — has rejected the offer of a non-harassment order and wants to be with him.

Prosecutor Amy Spencer told the town's sheriff court: "As I understand it, as soon as the accused is released the complainer intends to resume the relationship with him."

Defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher said that Sinclair had been remanded in custody since Christmas Eve, which roughly equates to a year-long prison sentence in court terms.

Mr Gallagher also pointed out that several serious allegations had been deleted from the latest indictment against his client.

Sheriff McIntyre said: "There are concerns for obvious reasons and the author of the background report, understandably, impresses the value of supervision to protect the public."

The sheriff considered imposing a prison sentence with a supervised release order thereafter but noted that such a directive would last for only 12 months following Sinclair's liberation.

He said: "He has a worrying background and I'm not convinced that prison would allow for a sufficient supervision period."

Sheriff McIntyre acknowledged that the latest offence, and Sinclair's disturbing criminal record, both justified a jail term but he also noted that he would likely be 'released in early course'.

The court heard previously how social workers launched an urgent probe after a photograph of Sinclair with his current partner — a mother-of-one — emerged.

The woman succumbed to family pressure to end her relationship with him which led to the pattern of behaviour last year resulting in his arrest.

Sinclair pleaded guilty to a vastly reduced charge following negotiations between Mr Gallagher and the Crown.

He had originally been charged with stalking her for nearly two months, including an allegation that he 'placed a listening device' in her home and went on to narrate details to her of her private conversations.

It was also alleged that he threatened to post an intimate video of the woman on social media and held a fork to her neck within a restaurant.

However, his not guilty pleas to these and other allegations were accepted.

Sinclair admitted repeatedly sending text messages and phoning the woman, turning up at her house uninvited and refusing to leave and repeatedly questioning her and attempting to seize her

mobile phone.

He committed those offences between October 31 and December 21 last year.

Sinclair's rape victim told the High Court trial in 2014 that she considered him a friend because she could confide in him about her mother's death.

She'd gone for a drive with him on September 17, 2013 and and said she was not worried when he parked at a secluded spot in the cemetery, adding: "I felt safe."

But dad-of-two Sinclair reclined her seat and pounced on her.

Sheriff McIntyre told Sinclair: "Your record is a concern and that makes this far from straightforward.

"My primary concern is that you remain under my supervision for a lengthy period.

"Anything which causes you to breach the order I am about to impose would bring you back here and you will be re-sentenced."

Sinclair will be under supervision for two years and must attend and 'engage positively' with all meeting and programmes designed to rehabilitate him.

A review hearing is due to take place on June 28.