Ryan Lafferty jailed for raping student in Glasgow's west end A rapist attacked a student after he was ejected from a university union. Ryan Lafferty carried out the attack on the 19-year-old girl in the west end of Glasgow last year. On Tuesday, the 23-year-old was jailed for eight years at the High Court in Edinburgh for the rape and assault last May after he had been removed from Glasgow University's Queen Margaret Union. The High Court in Glasgow previously heard he went home to his girlfriend after he attacked the woman. Lafferty grabbed his victim from behind before dragging her to some steps in Lilybank Gardens. He repeatedly punched her during the serious sexual assault close to Ashton Lane on May 19 last year. Prosecutor Neil Beardmore said the rape occurred at around 1.50am before Lafferty's victim was found by two passers-by. The court heard that Lafferty made his way home and told his girlfriend he had suffered scratches to his face in a fight. His victim was treated for bruising to her forehead, left eye and cheek and shoulder at the accident and emergency department at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow. Lady Scott told Lafferty: "This was the kind of violent assault which puts all women in fear of going out at night and robs them of their freedom of movement. Your immediate predatory response on seeing this young woman alone was very disturbing. Shortly before the rape, Lafferty was found by medical students drunk in a doorway in Lilybank Gardens. Lafferty, of Glasgow's Millerston, gave his name to them, before they called a taxi for him, but the attacker wandered off and minutes later carried out the sex assault. CCTV footage showed him hiding behind a van as the woman walked along Lilybank Gardens before following her. The court heard that the clothes he wore that night were seized and an analysis of them matched a partial profile of his victim's DNA. The court heard that the rapist's victim suffers nightmares of the attack and has difficulty sleeping. Defence advocate Louise Arroll said Lafferty remembered nothing of the incident but had pleaded guilty as soon as he learned that DNA evidence linking him to the attack was "compelling." He had shown how sorry he was by not asking for bail, the lawyer said. Lafferty has no record for sex offences but previous convictions connected to his heavy drinking, including driving while over the alcohol limit. She added: "It appears alcohol and drug misuse feature in his life and that has caused him to commit offences." Alison Di Rollo, head of the national sexual crimes unit, said: "Ryan Lafferty has been convicted of a terrifying and degrading rape and has been sentenced by the High Court accordingly. He pled guilty after a thorough investigation by the police and the Crown and in so doing his victim was spared the task of giving evidence in person and reliving her ordeal. Prosecutors take the crimes of rape and sexual offences extremely seriously and are committed to ensuring that all such cases are investigated thoroughly and prosecuted appropriately. Victims can have confidence that their cases will be handled by specialists trained to carry out professional, effective prosecution in the public interest.