A DANGEROUS Irvine rapist has failed in his bid to have a 10-year curfew thrown out.

John McDougall, 35, was released from prison last month following a 15-year stint behind bars.

On the day of his release (January 21), McDougall called a hearing at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court in a desperate attempt to have the stringent conditions of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) altered.

But it was agreed by a sheriff on February 3, that the majority of conditions should remain in place.

McDougall was first convicted in 2000 of raping a 19-year-old woman at knifepoint in the town.

However, after being released on licence in 2005, McDougall attacked a 16-year-old girl living in a children’s home, less than 48 hours after leaving prison.

The serial sex offender committed further breaches including contacting 55 different women using a bogus Facebook account in 2012.

And just last June, McDougall was caught with various different Facebook and dating website accounts as well as failing to reveal 100 different text messages with three different SIM cards.

The court previously heard how notes of the names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of women were also found in his home address.

This offence occurred just a day after his release from prison.

McDougall is now freely living in and walking the streets of Irvine. The application was made by the Chief Constable of Police Scotland and sought 11 restrictions in order to protect the public, including:

• Preventing him from contacting any adult female he does not know unless she is accompanied by another adult.

• Contacting any woman under 18 unless unavoidable.

• Ordering him to inform the police of any relationship with any woman

• Not deleting any internet history, phone or text messages.

It was revealed that the multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) rated McDougall, who is on the sex offender’s register indefinitely, at level 3 – the highest risk of causing serious sexual harm.

Acting on behalf of the police, Sharon Clelland said: “Following his conviction on November 14, 2000 for rape he’s a qualifying offender for a sexual offences prevention order to protect the public from serious sexual, psychological or physical harm.

“The rape attack caused serious harm to his victim and he has re-offended on each occasion of probation in a very short period of time.

“Each of the conditions sought are necessary and proportionate and go no further than meets the risks.

“The respondent is a very high risk offender who when in the community needs the highest form of management.

A detective giving evidence at the previous hearing said McDougall should only be allowed outside his home at night if it was on fire.

McDougall’s solicitor, Roisin Docherty, argued that the conditions sought were “draconian” and that a curfew would harm her client’s chances of employment in the catering industry.

Both lawyers agreed on amending McDougall’s notification to the police of any relationship between himself and any woman whether in person or social media to 48 hours.

Presiding Sheriff Iona McDonald said: “It is clear from the respondent’s criminal history there was a previous offence involving a child.

“In my view it’s clear to the respondent that he is not to approach any adult female not known to him not in the company of another adult and that clearly covers the ordinary and daily situation such as going into a shop.”

Sheriff McDonald allowed all of the conditions to be imposed for 10 years.

However, the sheriff agreed to change McDougall’s curfew to between 10pm and 7am to assist him with any employment opportunities.

Sheriff McDonald also refused the Chief Constable’s motion for expenses given McDougall has no income and was only partially legally aided.