Two young women have been sexually assaulted in Kirkintilloch within the past month. Gillian Renwick, a councillor for the area, said: “As a woman, I can speak to the fact there is always an inherent concern about walking alone after it gets dark, and you learn from a young age to take general precautions - but nothing prepares you for anything like this. “When the first attack happened two weeks ago there was shock across the board that something so brutal happened in Kirkintilloch.” She added that the fear of crime is greater than the reality of risk but welcomed an increased police presence in the area following the sick attacks.