A serial rapist who carried out attacks on four women over seven years is appealing his jail term.
Neil Ireland, 40, was last year found guilty of a string of rapes and sex attacks between January 2008 and December 2015 in Cupar, Methil and Leven.
He was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a judge who described him as a “predator” who “befriended and exploited vulnerable women”.
But lawyers acting for Ireland will attempt to have his sentence and conviction quashed at the High Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh this week.
His appeal comes after launching a legal challenge at the Court of Session claiming it is his human right to be allowed to smoke inside his cell at Perth Prison.
The High Court in Dunfermline heard in April last year that Ireland is the father of two children conceived through rapes.
During the trial his victims were forced to re-live their ordeals at the hands of Ireland, from Methil.
One woman said she had fallen asleep with her daughter lying on her arm before he raped her while in bed.
Solicitor Iain Paterson said Ireland was a first offender who had demonstrated in the past that he had “an excellent work ethic”.
He said Ireland intended to co-operate with the authorities while serving his prison sentence and would take part in offender programmes.
Judge Lord Uist said in sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh in May last year that Ireland portrayed himself as the victim.
He said: “It was, in my opinion, correctly stated by the Crown at your trial that you were a predator who befriended and exploited vulnerable women by taking advantage of them sexually, not caring whether they consented to what you did to them.
“Moreover, it was clear to me that you considered that you were entitled to act as you did and that you have shown no remorse or regret.
“You must now appreciate the gravity of the crimes of which you have been convicted and I hope that at some point you will come to acknowledge and perhaps even understand the very damaging effect which your crimes have had on your female victims.
“Today you have to pay the price for your criminal conduct.”
Ireland was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely following his conviction.
Detective Inspector Jim Leeson, of Fife’s domestic abuse investigation unit, said: “Ireland is a despicable individual who had no thought or care for the welfare of his victims.
“This sentence reflects the serious pain and suffering that he put his victims through between 2008 and 2015.
“Any report of sexual offences will be thoroughly investigated and continues to be a top priority for Police Scotland and I urge anyone who has been a victim of a sexual crime to contact police.”
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