Dundee Man Sentenced for Attempted Rape and Assaults on Two Women

A man received a sentence of six years and eight months in jail after carrying out separate attacks on two women who had left a university library, one of which involved attempted rape. The court was informed that Derek Lewis targeted the initial victim as she walked home from Dundee University. The second woman experienced a sexual assault, an incident characterized in court as “a horrifying, prolonged and violent attack.” Lewis, aged 40, had previously confessed to these attacks, both of which occurred on the same evening in February. Additionally, Lewis admitted to entering a student flat, removing knives from the kitchen, placing one knife on a chest of drawers in a bedroom, and subsequently being discovered concealed in a bathroom with another of the blades. Residents “bravely removed” him from the flat, according to testimony heard in court. Social workers, who conducted a risk assessment on Lewis, stated that he seemed “determined to have a victim for sexual crimes.” Judge Lady Poole informed Lewis that his conduct had been “traumatic and frightening” for his victims and was probable to have generated apprehension within the broader university community. Beyond the prison sentence, she imposed an extension period of four years, allowing for his return to custody should he reoffend, and mandated his registration on the sex offenders register for life. Testimony in court revealed that the first woman departed from Dundee University library, visited a supermarket, and then began her walk home. Lewis attempted to engage her in conversation, but she disregarded him and kept walking until he seized her from behind. As she attempted to scream, Lewis covered her mouth with his hand, eventually releasing her after a struggle. A vehicle passed by during the assault in Kirk Lane, an event the victim believed caused Lewis to release her. The second woman, who had been studying at the university library, noticed a male behind her while she was walking home. After a struggle, the woman was dragged into a bushy area on King Street and sexually assaulted. A local resident was alerted by his partner, who had heard the woman’s “terror-stricken cries.” He looked outside and observed Lewis on top of the woman, hearing her plead, “help me.” He then ran out and shouted at Lewis, while another neighbor contacted the police. Lewis was identified via CCTV footage and later discovered “unresponsive in the street,” attributed to the influence of drink or drugs. Video footage of the second attack was presented in court. During an interview, Lewis stated that he had no memory of the incidents and had been consuming drugs. Kris Gilmartin, the solicitor-advocate representing Lewis, commented: “He is remorseful and ashamed of his actions.” Lewis displayed no emotion as Lady Poole remarked that prior domestic offenses indicated a history of perpetrating crimes against women. She further stated to 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.”