A man who raped his former partner, who later took her own life, has been jailed.

Ryan Graham, 27, was on bail at the time for another sex attack on the woman.

He first assaulted the woman at a house in Irvine in March during an argument.

Days after being granted bail, he raped her despite being ordered by a court to stay away.

The woman, 34, took her own life, but left a letter detailing the harrowing incident.

Graham denied charges and claimed anything that happened between them sexually on the day of the rape was consensual.

After a trial at the High Court in Glasgow, Graham, from Ayrshire, was unanimously convicted of a violent and sexual assault on March 8 and raping the woman on March 10, while on bail.

Judge Sean Murphy QC jailed Graham, who is now on the sex offenders register, on Tuesday for ten years.

Defence QC Donald Findlay argued unsuccessfully that it was a breach of Graham's human rights that his lawyer was not able to cross-examine the victim.

He said: "The trial is unfair to my client. The defence has not been able to challenge the complainer's evidence. The accused's special defence could not be tested."

Mr Findlay said the letter left by the complainer was "moving" but there was nothing to suggest when it had been written.

He told the court Graham is still grieving for his ex-partner and still maintains his innocence.

The judge said: "You have been convicted by the jury of what can only be described as three appalling offences, committed against the complainer who was very vulnerable for various reasons."