Description
A violent sex offender who carried out a life-endangering assault on a woman after sexually assaulting her has been jailed for nine years.
Paul Gilbert, 44, subjected his victim to repeated verbal, physical, and sexual abuse, including rapes.
A judge told Gilbert that his offending culminated in “a horrific attack” which occurred after he sexually assaulted the woman.
On February 18, 2023, at a house in Moray, Gilbert shouted at the woman, pushed and sexually assaulted her, repeatedly punched her head, grabbed and squeezed her face causing unconsciousness, and poured alcohol on her to her injury and the danger of her life.
Gilbert, formerly of Nairn, denied the charges at trial but was convicted of seven offences committed between 2013 and 2023 in Moray and Inverness, including rape, assault, assault to danger of life, and abusive behaviour.
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Cubie noted Gilbert had engaged in minimising his offending and victim blaming post-conviction.
The judge said:
“There is no remorse, no understanding, only self pity at the consequences for you.”
He added that Gilbert's culpability and the harm caused were high, describing it as a campaign of control and dominance.
Lord Cubie ordered Gilbert to be supervised in the community for two years after his sentence, on licence that could return him to prison if breached.
Defence counsel Alistair Sloan said Gilbert had
“a substantial work record” but also health issues, adding: “He is aware these are very serious matters and the court will have no option but to impose a lengthy custodial sentence.”
Gilbert was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and subjected to a non-harassment order banning contact with the victim.