DEREK LEWIS SENTENCED IN DUNDEE FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ATTACKS ON WOMEN

Derek Lewis, a man from Dundee, has been handed a lengthy prison sentence after being found guilty of multiple serious offences involving two women near Dundee University. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior and violent acts committed by Lewis on the evening of February 20, 2024, which caused significant trauma to his victims and alarm within the local community.

According to court reports, Lewis initially targeted a female student as she was walking home from Dundee University. Despite her efforts to ignore him, he persisted in his attempts to approach her. The situation escalated when Lewis forcibly grabbed her from behind, covering her mouth with his hand in an attempt to silence her as she struggled to scream for help. Fortunately, a passing car distracted him, prompting him to release his hold, and the woman managed to escape unharmed. This incident marked the beginning of a night filled with violence and criminal activity.

Later that same evening, Lewis committed a heinous sexual assault against another woman. She had become aware of his presence behind her while she was in the university library, and as she moved away, Lewis followed her. He then dragged her into nearby bushes on King Street, where he subjected her to a prolonged and violent attack. CCTV footage captured the assault, revealing the brutality of his actions. Lewis attempted to rape her and committed additional sexual offences during the assault. The victim’s cries for help attracted the attention of a local resident, who intervened and witnessed Lewis on top of the woman. Several other individuals also called the police, leading to Lewis’s eventual arrest.

At the time of his apprehension, Lewis was found intoxicated in the street, having been under the influence of drugs. It was also established that he had entered a student flat, where he took two knives from the kitchen. He left one knife on a bedroom chest of drawers and was later discovered hiding in a bathroom with the other knife. Residents of the flat bravely removed him from the premises. Further investigations revealed that Lewis had a history of domestic offences and other criminal behavior, including a previous conviction involving a knife and a term of imprisonment for wilful fire-raising that endangered lives. He was also subject to community payback orders at the time of these offences.

Lady Poole, the presiding judge, described Lewis’s actions as “traumatic and frightening,” emphasizing the profound impact on his victims and the wider university community. She highlighted the serious, lasting emotional, physical, and financial harm caused by his crimes. The judge also noted that Lewis, aged 40, has a concerning criminal record, including previous convictions with sexual aggravation and domestic violence, indicating a pattern of offending against women. His history of substance abuse, homelessness, and mental health issues was also acknowledged as aggravating factors.

In her sentencing remarks at the High Court in Stirling, Lady Poole sentenced Lewis to an extended sentence totaling 10 years and 8 months. The custodial component was set at 6 years and 8 months, reduced from 10 years due to his early guilty plea, with an additional four-year extension period in the community. During this extension, Lewis will be on license under conditions set by the Scottish Ministers, and failure to comply could result in revocation of his license and re-imprisonment. The sentence was backdated to February 22, 2024, the date of his initial remand.

Lady Poole detailed the severity of the offences, noting that if she had sentenced each separately, the total custodial time would have been 12 years. However, to avoid an excessively harsh sentence, she combined the offences into a single, more manageable term. She also ordered that Lewis be subject to lifelong notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the need for ongoing public protection.