A STREET beggar who raped a 57-year-old woman after she stopped to offer help could be facing a life sentence.

James Campbell, 31, admitted raping the woman on August 16 last year at around 6.30pm in a lane between West Nile Street and Nelson Mandela Place, Glasgow, when he appeared at the High Court last month.

But, Campbell told a social worker preparing a background report on him he never raped the woman.

He was asssessed as being at high risk of re-offending.

And now, judge Lady Stacey has called for a risk assessment report to be prepared on Campbell.

READ MORE: Buchanan Street beggar raped woman who stopped to ask if he was alright

This is the first step to deciding if an Order for Lifelong Restriction – similar to a life sentence – should be imposed.

She told Campbell: “I need to get more information before I can decide what to do.”

Defence counsel John McElroy said: “This is an appalling offence which was caught on CCTV. I spoke to Mr Campbell and he fully accepts what he did. He couldn't believe he would act in this way.”

Sentence was further deferred on Campbell until May.

Campbell, who lived with his mother in Paisley, was out begging on August 16 last year on Buchanan Street and the woman noticed he was not wearing a top – although it was cold and raining.

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The woman asked him if he was alright and chatted to him for about 10 minutes. 

Campbell followed her and, as she walked past the lane, he demanded a kiss before restraining her and raping her.

Campbell, who dressed in Celtic Football Club clothing and draped himself in an Irish tricolour, regularly begged on Buchanan Street and made up to £100 a day.

Prosecutor Angela Gray said: “He told the woman: 'I love you. I want you to be my girlfriend' , and she replied: 'Don't be daft. I don't even know you'.”

The court heard the woman struggled with Campbell and repeatedly told him “please don't” and “there is no need for this.”

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A lawyer working in an office overlooking the lane phoned the police who arrived and dragged Campbell off his terrified victim.

Campbell told police: “She wanted rough sex, so I gave it to her.”

Miss Gray added: "The accused spent his days begging on Buchanan Street and it is understood he collected between £40 and £100 per day."

Campbell, who has been in custody since August last year, has been placed on the sex offenders' register.

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