A JURY is considering their verdict in the case of a man accused of multiple rapes and assaults.

Zach Rankin, 23, from Mount Florida, Glasgow, denies 14 charges of verbal and physical abuse and five charges of rape involving three women - two aged 24 and one aged 20.

The women all gave evidence that Rankin was a jealous and controlling lover.

Two of them said the increasing sexual violence he allegedly used against them included strangling, forced sex and degradation.

One claimed she'd wakened in the accused's bed to find him having sex with her. She said he refused to stop when she told him: "That's rape".

Rankin claimed all three women were lying because they bore grudges against him and insisted none of the allegations were true.

He lodged a special defence that the women - one of whom was just 15 at the time - consented to sex.

In his closing speech, advocate depute Mark McGuire said the evidence of the women had conjured up "horrific images" of Rankin's alleged sexual depravity.

He told the jury: "All of them spoke of similar relationships which started off well but degenerated because of his temper, his tendency to resort to physical violence such as spitting and most of all ever more deviant sexual violence."

"He obtained sexual gratification by molesting them and there was clear escalation of the gravity of his crimes."

He added: "They gave clear, unwavering and frequently harrowing accounts."

Defence counsel John Scott highlighted inconsistencies in the women's evidence and urged the jury to accept that his client's denials were credible and reliable.

The case continues.