A Highland rapist is being hunted by police who believe he is a risk to the public.
Police are appealing for information to trace Derek Ray Mackay, 33, from the Ross-shire area.
Mackay, who lives in Invergordon, has failed to comply with conditions of a court order.
He is described as 5ft 8in height, of medium build, fair complexion, with short brown hair.
Detective Inspector Craig Still, said: “We want to trace Derek Mackay as quickly as possible and I’d be interested to hear from anyone who has information.
“I would like to reassure people that considerable and extensive efforts are being put into locating him and I would ask people not approach Mr Mackay if you believe you have seen him. Instead please call Police Scotland on 101 as soon as you can.”
Mackaywas jailed for four years and three months in 2013 for raping a 30-year-old woman at a house in Ross-shire.
He attacked her while she slept at a property in Alness, Ross-shire.
He was found guilty at the end of a three-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh before temporary judge Edward Bowen QC.
At the time he raped the woman, Mackay had been on bail for another undisclosed matter.
After conviction, prosecution lawyer Peter Ferguson QC said that Mackay had 20 previous convictions for drugs, road traffic and assault offences.
Passing sentence, judge Bowen said: “You have a pretty bad record for a person of your age. Your offences indicate that you have a disregard for others.
“With regard to this particular offence, you had no regard for the dignity and physical integrity of your victim.
“The court can only impose one sentence and that is custody.”
Earlier this year The Press and Journal reported that Mackay, who twice evaded police capture by driving at high speed, was brought to halt by a “stinger” operation to deflate his tyres.
The “stinger” is a spiked piece of apparatus designed to puncture tyres of a vehicle to bring it to a safe halt.
At Inverness Sheriff Court Mackay admitted two instances of dangerous driving.
He was jailed for a total of 24 months and banned from driving for five years and seven months.
