A HELENSBURGH martial arts coach repeatedly raped a 21-year-old woman with severe learning disabilities when he was supposed to be giving her private lessons.

Grandfather Edward Monaghan, 54, of Athole Street in the Kirkmichael area, raped the woman, who has a very low IQ and is assessed as having the mental capacity of a five or six-year-old child, at his home and at the car park at Craigendoran railway station – while her parents thought he was giving her a taekwondo lesson.

The abuse took place on various occasions between October 2014 and January 2015.

Monaghan, a council bin man, was found guilty after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow of raping the woman, who is incapable of giving consent.

But he was allowed to walk free from court after the judge decided to release him on bail.

He claimed that the woman was a willing participant and admitted they had carried out some sex acts, but denied having sexual intercourse with her.

Deferring sentence until next month, Judge Robert Weir QC told Monaghan: “I will continue your bail because you are a first offender and have complied with your bail conditions.

"It does not reflect on any sentence that may be imposed.”

Monaghan was placed on the sex offenders' register. He was also made the subject of a daily 7pm-7am curfew, and will have to report to Helensburgh police station every day until he is sentenced.