A sexual predator who wept and told his family that he loved them moments after being convicted of raping and assaulting two women has been jailed for seven years.
Inverness man James Gilliard, 35, was described as “a serious risk” to women by the judge as he was sent to prison.
Lady Carmichael told builder Gilliard at Edinburgh Sheriff Court that she had no other option but to send him to prison.
She added: “On the basis of the evidence and the content of the criminal justice social work report, I have formed the view that you present a risk of serious harm to women. You take little responsibility for that.”
Last month, Gilliard was about to be remanded in custody he gave a thumbs-up gesture to relatives sitting in the public benches at the High Court in Edinburgh last month.
Crying loudly, he told family members who were also weeping openly in court: “I love you.”
The exchange came minutes after jurors returned guilty verdicts on charges of rape, assault and breach of the peace charges against Gilliard, of Craigton Avenue, Inverness. The builder, who has previous convictions, had spent a week denying allegations that he abused his female victims, who cannot be identified for legal reasons. However, jurors returned guilty verdicts after spending a day deliberating their verdicts.
During the trial, the court heard how Gilliard raped a 31-year-old woman at an address in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on an occasion between March and June 2005. Before sexually assaulting the female, Gilliard had physically assaulted her by throwing her down a flight of stairs.
He also locked the woman in a cupboard and detained her there against her will. The court also heard how on an occasion between January 1 2010 and February 28 2010, Gilliard raped his second victim, a 35-year-old woman at an address in Inverness. He had also previously physically assaulted her by repeatedly punching, slapping, kicking and striking her on the head and body.
The court also heard that on May 15 2015, at an address in Inverness, Gilliard committed a breach of the peace by shouting and swearing at a woman, who also cannot be identified for legal reasons. Gilliard did not give evidence during proceedings. Following conviction, it emerged that Gilliard had previous convictions for assault and breach of the peace. Yesterday, defence solicitor advocate Iain Paterson told the court that his client still maintained his innocence but accepted that he had been convicted of serious crimes. Mr Paterson added:”He accepts that you will proceed with a custodial sentence.”
Lady Carmichael also ordered Gilliard to be supervised by the authorities for two years following his release from jail.