A man with a history of violence raped a terrified student hours after attacking another woman.

Thomas Robertson, 27, pounced on the 21-year-old as she walked home from a friend's flat in Stirling in the early hours on February 3.

She feared she was going to die as Robertson held a lump of concrete over her head during the rape at an underpass near the Customs Roundabout.

The student eventually managed to flee before collapsing in tears at home.

Prosecutor Gillian Ross told the High Court in Glasgow the woman "thought she was not going to escape with her life".

It emerged Robertson, of Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, had also attacked a 22-year-old woman in Bridgehaugh Street at about 11pm on February 2.

She was grabbed and repeatedly punched before Robertson pulled her towards bushes. He covered her mouth to stop her cries and brandished a stick at her.

The victim eventually escaped his clutches before he could rape her. She then hid until he had gone and managed to call the police.

Robertson is now in custody after pleading guilty to charges of rape and assault with intent to rape.

Judge Lord Boyd heard Robertson already had a lengthy criminal past, including jail terms for robbery. He deferred sentencing for reports until next month.