A man who repeatedly raped young girls died in his cell from illnesses related to obesity.
Stanley Sandison, who raped one victim 10 or 12 times, claimed that he was unfit to face trial because he was too fat.
At one stage a trial had to be carried out in the basement of the sheriff court close to his home in Lossiemouth, Moray, so that he wouldnt have to climb any stairs or travel to Glasgow.
Sandison, who once tipped the scales at 24st, suffered heart disease that was brought on by his weight and died at the age of 69 at Glenochil prison in December 2016.
An inquiry into his death found that there were no reasonable precautions which could have been taken to avoid the death.
Boy in court over rape of girl, 10, who was strangled and left in a stream
The inquiry heard that Sandison had lost more than seven stone after embarking on a diet in prison but could not be saved.
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Sheriff Mackie said: The late Mr Sandison was registered disabled as a result of obesity and required to use a wheelchair and zimmer frame to mobilise.
During his period of incarceration he had lost almost 45kg of weight as a result of a healthier diet and exercise.
At about 8.35am on 17 December 2016 a prison officer along with nurses attended at the late Mr Sandisons cell but were unable to rouse him. They thought he was dead.
A doctor attended the deceaseds cell and pronounced life extinct.
Sandison was found guilty of raping two girls and sexually assaulting three others between 1964 and 1976.
His sentencing hearing had to be held in the basement of a court so he would not have to climb stairs.
Lord Turnbull said he was guilty of a course of sexual predatory conduct against vulnerable young girls.
One victim told the jury how she had been raped about 10 or 12 times by Sandison.
She wept as she recalled: He sat me on the couch and removed my clothes he told me to stay quiet.
Another young girl was also raped by the retired distillery worker.
The court heard Sandison told social workers who were completing a pre-sentencing report that he realised one victim may have been scared.
But he added that because she was now married that she must have got over it.
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