A man raped a student in an underpass just hours after trying to rape another woman.

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

His victim feared she was going to die as Robertson held a lump of concrete over her head during the attack.

She eventually managed to flee and made it home.

It emerged he had attacked another hours earlier after battering her and dragging her towards bushes.

Robertson, who has previous convictions for robbery, pleaded guilty to charges of rape and assault with intent to rape.

He was jailed for eight years and eight months at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday.

The court heard the 21-year-old was attacked after leaving a friend's flat around 2.30am on February 3.

She was at an underpass near the Customs Roundabout in Stirling when Robertson struck. He pinned the terrified woman to the ground before eventually raping her.

At one point, he grabbed a piece of concrete and held it above her head.

Prosecutor Gillian Ross said: "She thought she was not going to escape with her life."

Robertson chillingly claimed at one point that if his victim did not struggle, he would not "hurt" her. She bravely broke free and immediately raced towards her home.

She then told a friend she had been raped.

Hours earlier, Robertson, of Saltcoats, Ayrshire, had already attacked a 22- year-old woman.

She had also been heading to her home in Stirling around 11pm on February 2 when Robertson grabbed her.

The woman, who had spent the night practising music with a friend, was attacked in Bridgehaugh Road.

Robertson repeatedly punched the woman, then pulled her towards bushes, covered her mouth to stop her cries and menacingly brandished a piece of wood 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 was spotted by police in the area after the rape incident. He initially told officers to "get to f**k".

He then headed towards a nearby river and threatened to kill himself. The court was told both women were left injured after suffering at the hands of Robertson.

Robertson has previously been locked up for serious assault as well as robbery while using a knife.

Defence QC Brian McConnachie said: "He has a partner who is standing by him."

He said Robertson admitted his guilt and had some insight into what his victims must have suffered.

Mr McConnachie said: "He has a significant record, but not for anything sexual up until now. He realises his offending has spiralled out of control."

Robertson was told by judge Lord Boyd he poses a danger to the public and ordered to be monitored in the community for five years after his release.

Lord Boyd said: "In the course of a few hours you subjected your victims to significant sexual attacks with significant violence and threats."