Convicted Scots rapist threatened to "snap" girlfriend's neck during savage assault

Richard Wotherspoon admitted attacking his girlfriend during the horrifying ordeal at a Bellshill flat in January.

The girlfriend of a convicted rapist feared for her life when he attacked her in their home.

Richard Wotherspoon threatened to “snap” Gemma Mooney’s neck and said he would “take a murder charge” for her.

Wotherspoon, 30, admitted assault at their flat in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, on January 28.

He was only 16 when he was locked up for four years in 2006 for the rape of a supermarket worker in Airdrie.

A manhunt was launched when ­Wotherspoon went missing days after being freed on licence in 2008.

He had been freed from jail just weeks before the latest assault, having served half of a four-month sentence.

Michael Macintosh, prosecuting, told Hamilton Sheriff Court: “He tried to strike her then grabbed hold of her and held her arms behind her back.

“She ran out to the verandah in fear of what the accused might do and he locked her out there.

“The complainer remained on the verandah for 10 minutes, shouting and screaming for neighbours to help.

“The accused then unlocked the verandah and let her back in but grabbed her by the throat, pushing her on to a couch.

“The complainer indicates she feared for her life. He threatened to snap her neck and said, ‘I’ll take a f****** murder charge for you’.

"She managed to roll off the couch, ran out of the flat and called the police.

The victim pleaded with officers not to arrest the accused because she feared the repercussions.

An allegation that Wotherspoon had compressed her throat was deleted from the charge.

Ian Scott, defending, said the argument began because ­Wotherspoon had ­discovered his ­girlfriend was taking drugs when they were trying for a baby.

He added: “She is now pregnant and their baby is due in late September/early October.”

Sheriff Thomas Millar deferred sentence until next month for a criminal justice social work report.

Wotherspoon was remanded in custody.