19 February 2013 Last updated at 10:19 ET

Man found guilty of raping and abusing women in Easter Ross

William Beattie denied the charges during his High Court trial

A jury has found a man guilty of raping and sexually assaulting women in Easter Ross.

William Beattie, 51, who lived in Tain before moving to Glasgow, had denied the allegations during his trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The court heard details of sex offences against three women dating back to April 1994.

He raped one of the women, now 39, and assaulted her with a shotgun. He also raped a second victim, who is now 65.

Beattie also sexually abused a woman, who is now 50, and threatened her with a knife.

Some of the offences happened in Alness and Invergordon, the court heard.

Beattie denied all the allegations.

During his trial, he said he was shy and found relationships with women difficult. He described the women's evidence as "rubbish".

Judge Lord Uist called for background reports and deferred sentence until next month.

The judge told Beattie: "On any view you will be sentenced to a lengthy period of imprisonment."