John Delany previously pleaded guilty to the brutal assault at a property in Halkett Crescent, Rosshead, in July.

Last week Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard the 50-year-old, whose address was given as HM Prison Greenock, punched the woman on the head and knocked her to the ground. Delany sat astride his victim and pinned her arms to her body with his knees while he continued to punch her.

The court heard he then forced a rag into the woman’s mouth and smeared faeces over her face.

As he continued his attack, Delany tied the victim’s wrists together and poured liquid over her. It was heard he then boiled a kettle, leaving the woman being in fear of being scalded.

Douglas McAllister, defending, said Delany was ashamed of his actions, fully accepted the attack was ‘sickening’ and that a custodial sentence would be the only option.

Sheriff Simon Pender said: “You have been convicted of a very serious offence, inflicting a sustained and brutal attack on a vulnerable woman, during which you pinned her to the ground and gagged her.” Delany was sentenced to four years in prison, with five years supervision upon his release.

Delany will have to comply with a non-harassment order banning him from deliberately approaching his victim or attempting to communicate with her or her family.