A VIOLENT sex attacker who battered a woman after a row over shepherd's pie is facing a lengthy jail term.

Charles Connell, of Knightswood, was described as a "bully" and a "manipulator" as he was found guilty after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

The 53-year-old was convicted of raping and assaulting one woman to the danger of her life.

Connell raped another before indecently and physically attacking a third.

He was further convicted of assaulting a man to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment including leaving him with a broken cheekbone.

The crimes occurred between 1988 and 2002 at addresses in Knightswood, Kelvinbridge, Drumchapel and Springburn.

Jurors heard how the victim Connell indecently assaulted "crumbled" at his hands.

In her closing speech, prosecutor Lorraine Glancy KC recalled how there had also been a row about shepherd's pie and "her preference for mince and potatoes" before that "set off" Connell.

At other times, Connell was angry at the woman for "not doing cooking to his level" and "failing to meet the standards that he had set for them".

This woman was attacked repeatedly over the years including being punched, slapped, kicked, had a knife brandished at her and knocked unconscious.

An earlier victim was raped having got to know Connell when she was a teenager.

She was able to recall what she was wearing during one attack more than 30 years earlier.

This woman was also physically attacked.

The other rape victim was preyed upon in the mid-1990s.

She was approached years later by the police about Connell as she walked down the road with her partner.

She recalled: "I needed to sit down. I said: 'Why are you bringing his name up?'."

The man Connell attacked has been left scarred for life.

The court heard Connell tried to "dress" up what he had done to him "as a bit of a laugh".

Miss Glancy stated to jurors: "Do not be misled that this was all jolly japes."

The prosecutor said Connell, in his own evidence, gave the impression of "a man more to be pitied", who has ended up the "victim of a criminal conspiracy".

But, the advocate depute stated: "Did these people have a church hall set up or a WhatsApp group before or after the police came?

"It is nothing short of laughable that these people have put their heads together to form a conspiracy.

"There is clear evidence that, to some people, he could be a bully and a manipulator."

Connell had been on bail during the trial but was remanded in custody by Judge Alison Stirling.

He is due to be sentenced on the six charges at a hearing in Edinburgh later this month.

Connell was meantime put on the sex offenders list.