DAVID JEANS FROM AIRDRIE SENTENCED FOR RAPE AND ABDUCTION NEAR GATEHOUSE OF FLEET

A man from Airdrie, identified as David Jeans, has been convicted and sentenced for a brutal case of abduction, repeated sexual assault, and threats against his former partner. The harrowing events unfolded after Jeans, 34 years old, manipulated and deceived his victim, a 28-year-old single mother, whom he met through an online dating platform in January.

Jeans initially gained her trust by pretending to be battling cancer, a lie that played on her sympathy. The two soon moved in together, but the facade quickly crumbled as Jeans' jealousy and controlling behavior surfaced. Within just two weeks, he accused her of infidelity, demanding she send him photographs of her outings to prove her whereabouts and the company she kept. His possessiveness and suspicion created a tense and oppressive environment for the young woman.

By March, overwhelmed by Jeans' relentless jealous rages and controlling tactics, she decided to leave her home in an attempt to escape his grip. Despite her departure, Jeans persisted in harassing her through persistent phone calls, text messages, and social media messages. Over a span of six days, he made an astonishing 167 calls to her, including a chilling threat where he warned her, “Don’t test me coz what you’ve done is the last f****** straw. Short of the police putting you on the f****** moon, I will find you.” His threatening tone underscored the danger she was in.

In April, against her better judgment, the woman agreed to meet Jeans again. This meeting marked the beginning of a terrifying ordeal that would leave lasting scars. As Jeans drove her to the Auchenlarie caravan park near Gatehouse of Fleet in Kirkcudbrightshire, he made ominous threats, telling her she would never see her child again. The woman recounted her experience in court, describing how Jeans was looking for a cliff to drive her over, saying, “He was saying, ‘This is it, we’ll go together’. He put the seatbelt around my neck and asked if I wanted to die.”

Upon arriving at the caravan park, Jeans subjected her to a series of sexual assaults. He raped her after claiming he was proud not to have battered her, and held her captive in the caravan overnight. The following morning, he raped her again. The victim described her desperation, saying, “I’m not religious, but I was praying to get out.” She also revealed that Jeans had threatened to cut her throat and set her house on fire while she was inside with her child. Her ordeal only ended when Jeans left the caravan, providing her with a chance to escape.

Fortunately, a social worker, a nurse, and a special police constable, all staying at the same caravan park, came to her aid. The police were called, and Jeans was spotted attempting to escape by climbing over rocks at a nearby beach. His apprehension was aided by the coastguard, who helped track him down. During the investigation, Jeans denied the allegations, claiming that the woman had willingly gone on a “romantic” trip with him to the holiday park. He also attempted to dismiss the numerous calls he made to her, suggesting they were caused by a malfunction in his phone’s auto-redial feature.

Despite his denials, the jury found Jeans guilty of multiple charges, including rape, assault, and abduction. It was also revealed that he had previous convictions related to domestic abuse and abduction involving a former partner. Additionally, he was convicted of stalking his victim. The court sentenced Jeans to a total of eight years in prison. Judge Michael O’Grady QC paid tribute to the victim, describing her as “bullied, terrified and raped,” and criticized Jeans for his inability to control himself. The sentence will run consecutively to his existing 32-month sentence for driving offences.

Last week, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced plans to consult on establishing a new criminal offence specifically targeting domestic abuse. The Scottish Government emphasizes that while current laws can prosecute domestic abuse, a dedicated offence could better reflect the severity of such crimes and encourage victims to come forward with confidence.

The victim, who is now trying to rebuild her life, expressed her fears that Jeans may have harmed other women who are too afraid to report their experiences. She reflected on her ordeal, saying, “I know just how lucky I am to be alive. When we first met, I thought he was a nice guy. But when that changed, I just wanted to get away from him. It terrifies me to think what might have happened if I hadn’t eventually managed to escape. He really is a very clever, devious individual. I have recently discovered he had been in touch with other women too. I just don’t know what he’s told them or what he did to any of them.”