A dangerous sexual predator who dragged two teenage girls off the street in separate terrifying daylight attacks has been jailed for five years.
Regan McClinton, 24, targeted his victims in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, within weeks of each other, subjecting both schoolgirls to violent sexual assaults after forcibly pulling them from public view.
Pattern of Predatory Behaviour
The court heard how McClinton's first attack occurred on May 11th, 2023, when he approached a teenage girl and dragged her to a secluded area where he sexually assaulted her. Just weeks later, on June 3rd, he struck again using similar tactics against another young victim.
Both attacks happened in broad daylight, sending shockwaves through the local community and sparking a major police investigation.
Justice Served at Hamilton Sheriff Court
At Hamilton Sheriff Court, McClinton was sentenced to five years imprisonment and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely. Sheriff Alasdair MacFadyen described the offences as "particularly grave" given the young age of the victims and the violent nature of the attacks.
The judge emphasised that the sentence reflected the need to protect the public from such predatory behaviour and to deliver justice for the traumatised victims.
Community Relief and Police Response
Detective Inspector John Mckenzie of Police Scotland welcomed the sentence, stating: "McClinton is a dangerous sexual predator whose actions caused significant trauma to two young victims and their families. Today's sentence reflects the seriousness of his crimes and ensures he cannot pose a threat to other young women."
Local residents expressed relief at the outcome, with many hoping the sentence would bring some closure to the affected families and serve as a warning to other potential offenders.
