A ‘heartless and wicked’ thug who raped and brutally assaulted two women over a 35-year period has been jailed.
Callous James Gunn, 54, preyed on the females, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at various locations in Caithness between July 1980 and August 2015.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard yesterday how Gunn raped his first victim on an occasion between July 4, 1980, and May 1992.
He also subjected the woman to several physical beatings during the same time period.
Gunn, of Mount Vernon in Thurso, sexually assaulted his second victim on an occasion between October 30, 2002, and November 30, 2010. He also repeatedly assaulted the female on various occasions between October 2002 and August 2015.
Gunn pleaded guilty to two charges of rape and two charges of assault at the High Court earlier this year.
Sentence had been deferred for the court to obtain reports about his character.
On Friday, defence advocate Shelagh McCall QC told the court that her client accepted responsibility for his actions. She added: “He is realistic about the disposal in this case.”
However, judge Michael O’Grady QC told Gunn that he had no other option but to send him to prison for nine years.
Passing sentence, judge O’Grady added: “I have rarely had the misfortune to encounter a man such as you.
“You have a brazen contempt for women. You strike me as being heartless, wicked and dangerous and you will understand that a lengthy custodial sentence is inevitable.”
A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “James Gunn was controlling and physically and sexually abusive towards his victims. The suffering he inflicted on them over a period of time is deplorable.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to commend the bravery and courage of his victims who assisted with this inquiry and helped us ensure a conviction was secured. Although it does not change anything that happened, I hope that they can take some comfort from the verdict and continue to move forward with their lives.”
