A man who forced his way into a pensioner's home with the intention of raping her has been jailed for seven years.

Simon Johnston, 39, subjected the 71-year-old woman to a violent ordeal which lasted for several hours at her home in Kirkcaldy, Fife.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Johnston grabbed his victim by the hair and forced her from her kitchen to a bedroom and threatened her with a knife before eventually leaving the property.

On Friday, judge Lady Stacey told Johnston that the only sentence available to the court was a custodial one.

The judge added: "You have been convicted of a very serious offence. I consider you to be a very serious risk to public safety."

Johnston, of Kirkcaldy, was convicted of assault with intent to rape following proceedings at the High Court in Edinburgh in April. Sentence had been deferred for the court to obtain reports about his character.

During proceedings, the court heard how Johnston forced his way into the woman's house in June 2015.

Giving evidence, she told the court how Johnston ordered her to shut the windows and instructed her to be quiet as he threatened her with a knife and then attacked her.

Before he left, Johnston told the woman: "Scream and I'll f*****g kill you", the trial was told.

Giving evidence, Johnston admitted to visiting the woman's home. He said she was vulnerable and claimed he wanted to help her.

But the trial heard medical evidence that the woman had sustained 28 injuries consistent with a violent assault.

During sentencing, the judge also ordered that Johnston be placed under supervision by the authorities for two years following his release from custody and added to the sex offenders register.