Unemployed Alexander Thomson, 42, of Broxburn, West Lothian, was made the subject of an order for lifelong restriction at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday.

He was further given a lifetime non-harassment order, preventing him approaching or contacting his victims.

Thomson had previously been found guilty of subjecting a series of women to sexual assaults and violent attacks between 2012 and 2019.

He knocked out the teeth of one victim and burned her body with cigarettes. Another awoke to find Thomson had placed a plastic bag over her head to restrict her breathing.

Two women – aged 30 and 36 – died before Thomson’s trial began but had previously provided statements to the police about their experiences.

Prosecutors from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service were granted permission by the court to have those statements admitted as evidence, and read to the jury at Thomson’s trial.

The jury found Thomson guilty of 17 charges involving the abuse of four former partners – including charges of assault, abduction and 10 counts of rape.

Returning to the court for Friday’s sentence, he was jailed and made subject of an order for lifelong restriction, with a minimum punishment period of four years. An indefinite non-harassment order was also imposed to protect his victims.

Scotland’s head procurator fiscal for High Court sexual offences, Fraser Gibson, said: “Alexander Thomson’s offending brutalised and bullied women who trusted him. He betrayed their trust in the most despicable manner.

“It is extremely sad that two of his victims did not live to see Thomson be brought to justice. We are grateful for the evidence they provided in their determination that he be held to account – and to the other two women who bravely spoke out.

“The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is committed to the rigorous pursuit of justice. Our prosecutors will utilise all evidence available in this process.

“We would urge any victim or witness of similar offending to come forward, report it and seek help.”