���˿���

A man who attacked an American tourist near Stirling Castle hours after trying to rape a woman outside her home could face a life sentence, a court was told.

Toby McGeoch, 25, targeted both victims within half a mile of each other in March last year.

He punched the female tourist in the face and robbed her on the same day he grabbed the other woman in the close of her building.

McGeoch was warned by a sheriff that he could face an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR).

Sheriff Keith O'Mahony remitted the case to the High Court, saying he did not think he had sufficient sentencing powers to deal with McGeoch.

He added that the “nature and gravity” of the offences meant an OLR might be required, something only a High Court judge can impose.

An OLR involves a minimum "punishment part" of the sentence but offenders are only released when the parole board is satisfied imprisonment is no longer necessary.

Stirling Sheriff Court heard McGeoch followed the first victim home after spotting her in the city centre.

He caught up with her and asked for a light before offering to walk her home, which she refused.

The woman ran home and entered her building via a PIN code, but found McGeoch inside the close.

He grabbed her wrists and pulled down her tights, but the woman managed to open the front door of the building and pushed McGeoch into the street.

The court heard she texted a friend, saying: “Someone just tried to rape me in my close."

Later that day, McGeoch targeted an American tourist who was visiting Stirling Castle with a friend.

He approached them and asked if he could go with them.

On being told no, he punched one of the women in the face, knocking her to the ground.

He then repeatedly made sexual comments to the woman before stealing her handbag.

She suffered a bleeding and bruised nose, and was left “with blood all over her clothing.”

McGeoch pleaded guilty to sexual assault with intent to rape, and assault and robbery.