A sex attacker who pounced on a stranger and dragged her down a hill claimed he was only trying to rob her.
Daniel Carey, 25, struck in June 2017 in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, struggling with his victim and slapping his hand over her mouth.
A judge heard how the woman bravely fought back leaving him apparently “fearing for his safety”.
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Carey is now behind bars after he was today convicted of assaulting the woman with intent to rape.
Sentencing was deferred for reports at the High Court in Glasgow .
The attack occurred at Cumbernauld Glen on June 11 2017.
Jurors heard the woman “screamed for help” and yelled “please” as Carey struck.
But Carey denied the crime was sexually motivated.
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He said he believed the woman had a phone and his plan was to snatch it and “get away”.
Carey said: “I have never done anything like that before. It was my drug addiction that took me to a whole new level. I am not a repeat offender.”
Carey later agreed with prosecutor Greg Farrell that the woman ended up being “too strong” for him.
He told jurors: “She was trying to punch and kick me. The main thing I was then thinking about was her catching me.”
Mr Farrell asked: “You were concerned for your own safety?" and Carey replied: “Yes.”
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The advocate depute said: “This planned robbery was not going very well, was it?”
Carey added: “Seems not.”
Mr Farrell went on to describe Carey's story as a “pack of lies”.
Carey helped get himself caught by Police Scotland when he dropped his own phone at the scene.
He claimed he was “gutted” at losing it as the mobile was of “sentimental value”.
Lady Rae placed Carey on the sex offenders list.
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