A violent sex offender has been jailed for more than 13 years after raping two women and attacking a third victim.

Scott Howarth, 35, carried out the attacks in Fife and Aberdeen over a period of 13 years.

He targeted his first victim in 2011 and repeatedly assaulted her in Leven, Burntisland and Kirkcaldy, the High Court in Edinburgh heard.

Judge Lord Braid said the attacks were committed against a background of violence, threats and drug misuse.

Howarth, formerly of Kirkcaldy, attacked a second woman in March 2024 in Leven and kicked and pushed her during the assault.

The following month he attacked a third woman shortly after meeting her at a house in Aberdeen, where he kicked her on the head.

Shortly afterwards he raped the woman and went on to subject her to a life-endangering assault during which he struck her on the head and throttled her.

Howarth had denied a series of charges during an earlier trial but was convicted of five crimes - two of rape, two of assault and one of assault to danger of life.

Lord Braid sentenced Howarth to 13 years and three months in jail.

The judge also ordered that he should be kept under supervision for a further three years after the jail term. He will be on licence during that period and could be returned to jail if he breaches its conditions.

Defence solicitor advocate Gordon Martin KC told the court that Howarth continued to deny the sexual elements of the charges he was convicted of committing.

He said Howarth's previous criminal record was largely "reflective of somebody who has a substance misuse problem".

The judge made non-harassment orders prohibiting Howarth from contacting or attempting to contact the women.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.