Dundee man jailed for attempted rape and assaults

A man who separately attacked two women after they left a university library, subjecting one to an attempted rape, has been jailed for six years and eight months.

A court heard Derek Lewis targeted the first woman as she walked home from Dundee University.

The second woman was sexually assaulted in what was described in court as "a horrifying, prolonged and violent attack."

Lewis, 40, previously admitted the attacks, which both took place on the same evening in February.

Lewis also admitted entering a student flat and taking knives from the kitchen, leaving one knife on a chest of drawers in one of the bedrooms, before being found hiding in a bathroom with another of the blades.

The court heard he was "bravely removed" from the flat by residents.

Social workers who prepared a risk assessment on Lewis said it appeared he was "determined to have a victim for sexual crimes".

Judge Lady Poole told Lewis his actions had been "traumatic and frightening" for his victims and were likely to have caused consternation in the wider university community.

In addition to the jail term, she made him subject to an extension period of four years, during which time he can be returned to custody if he reoffends, and placed him on the sex offenders register for life.

The court heard that the first woman left Dundee University library and went to a supermarket before starting to walk home.

Lewis tried to talk to her, but she ignored him and continued to walk before he grabbed her from behind.

Lewis covered her mouth with his hand as she tried to scream, before letting her go following a struggle.

A car drove past during the attack, in Kirk Lane, which the victim believed was what prompted Lewis to let her go.

The second woman had been studying at the university library and became aware of a male behind her as she walked home.

Following a struggle, the woman was pulled into an area of bushes in King Street and sexually assaulted.

A local resident was alerted by his partner, who heard the woman's "terror-stricken cries".

He looked out and saw Lewis on top of the woman and heard her plead "help me."

He ran out and shouted at Lewis, while another neighbour called the police.

Lewis was traced through CCTV and eventually found "unresponsive in the street" through drink or drugs.

Footage of the latter attack was played to the court.

Lewis said during an interview that he had no recollection of the incidents and had been taking drugs.

Solicitor-advocate Kris Gilmartin, defending, said: "He is remorseful and ashamed of his actions."

Lewis showed no emotion as Lady Poole said that previous domestic offences suggested he had a history of offending against women.

She said told him: "You preyed on a series of people in the vicinity of a university.

"You say you had been taking drugs and alcohol but that's no excuse for your disgraceful course of behaviour."