A SEX fiend who indecently assaulted a cellmate while awaiting trial for raping a teenage girl has been given a life sentence.

James McColgan, 21, raped the girl during a horrific ordeal in which she was stabbed, forced to cut off chunks of her hair and to go outside naked.

He repeatedly threatened to kill her.

McColgan was then held in a youth prison to await trial but carried out a torture attack on a male inmate and sexually assaulted the screaming victim.

A judge ordered that McColgan, who has been involved in anti-social behaviour since the age of seven, should serve a minimum nine years.

But Lady Dorrian at the High Court in Edinburgh imposed an Order for Lifelong Restriction on him, which is reserved for serious violent and sex crimes.

Under such an order, McColgan will only be released if the Parole Board considers it safe.

McColgan, of Craig-donald Place, Johnstone, Renfrewshire, was also put on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

He earlier admitted assaulting and raping the 17-year-old college student at a flat in Saucel Crescent, Paisley, in September last year. He carried out the attack after being freed on two bail orders at Paisley Sheriff Court.

McColgan also pleaded guilty to a sex attack on a 17-year-old inmate at Polmont Young Offenders' Institution the following month.

The victim was repeatedly punched, kicked and stabbed with a pen.

McColgan also forced his hand into boiling water and stamped on it, forced him to drink water containing cigarette butts, burned him and threatened to kill him.