Blood-obsessed rapist Hector MacLennan to appeal
A man given a life sentence for two rapes and five sexual assaults against three teenage girls is to appeal against his conviction.
Hector MacLennan, from Munlochy, was found guilty of a string of attacks in Inverness over a nine-year period.
The jury at his trial heard the 30-year-old also slashed two of his victims with scissors because of a fascination with seeing people bleed.
An appeal hearing is due to take place on 16 November.
The hearing will be held at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh.
Judge Lord Woolman jailed MacLennan in March and also imposed a lifelong restriction order.
Appearing at the High Court in Edinburgh, MacLennan was told he had to serve five years in prison before he could apply for release.
In his sentencing statement, Lord Woolman said: "Let me emphasise again that does not mean that you will be released after five years.
"It is the minimum period that you must serve before you can be considered for parole.
"There is a possibility that you may never be released back into the community."
Lord Woolman said MacLennan had carried out a catalogue of rapes and assaults against three females between 2000 and 2009 at various houses in Inverness.
The judge praised Catherine Lackie who went to the aid of one of the victims as she tried to escape from MacLennan with her 14-week-old baby.
The witness saw the distressed victim and stopped as she drove to work before taking her to an address in the Black Isle.
MacLennan was also found guilty of downloading images of child abuse.