A "DESPICABLE individual" has been found guilty of attempting to rape a teenage girl more than a decade ago.
Rapist Sean Moynihan was snared after pouncing on the 15-year-old at a cycle track near to Castle Gardens in Paisley on May 19, 2008.
The investigation spanned over ten years with advances in DNA technology and the bravery of the victim being hailed as vital in securing the conviction against the 34-year-old following a trial at the High Court in Livingston.
Moynihan is currently in prison at HMP Glenochil after being sentenced in December 2015 for raping an 18-year-old woman at a cycle path between Linwood and Johnstone in October 2014.
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He was also given a life-long restriction order. Detective Sergeant Julie Nedley, Specialist Crime Division said today: “Sean Moynihan is a despicable individual - demonstrated by the fact that this is his third similar conviction for serious sexual offences committed against teenage girls unknown to him.
“He put each of his victims through the trauma of a trial and reliving their ordeals in a courtroom and has shown not one scrap of remorse.
“Renfrewshire is a safer place with him behind bars."
She added: “I’d like to take this opportunity to commend the victim of today’s trial who has displayed incredible bravery and dignity both during her ordeal and throughout the almost 11 years it has taken to bring Sean Moynihan to justice.
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"She has lived with the threats of him hanging over her for the last decade and only now can she feel safe in the knowledge that he is finally being held accountable for his actions.
“I’d also like to pay a special tribute to the courage of a previous victim of Moynihan who was brave enough to give evidence again, at this trial, which I’ve no doubt helped secure this additional conviction.
“The actions of Moynihan have deeply impacted on the lives of his victims and their families and I sincerely hope that today’s verdict brings them some comfort and closure and let them move on towards rebuilding their lives.
"I would like to take this opportunity to urge anyone who has been subjected to any form of sexual abuse to come forward and let us help you get the support that you deserve.”
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