By Nick Griffiths Crime Reporter

Last updated at 13:06, Tuesday, 16 March 2010

Police today paid tribute to the “Dunkirk spirit” of the victim of the Harraby sex attacker, saying she had been an inspiration throughout the investigation.

David Duthie Gillen, of Carlisle: Admitted raping a pensioner, two counts of sexual assault and one charge of robbing the pensioner of cash and underwear. He was sentenced to 12 years in jail for each of the robbery and rape charges and six years for each count of sexual assault. They will be served concurrently.

Related: Carlisle OAP's sex attacker jailed for 12 years

Detectives also said rapist David Duthie Gillen had showed no remorse when being quizzed over the crime, mainly remaining silent in interview after being caught.

Gillen, 52, was today facing up to a 12-year jail term after being sentenced for the sickening assault that shocked Carlisle and sparked one of the city’s biggest manhunts.

The judge passing sentence said Gillen’s offences were of “almost unimaginable depravity”, adding he “knew full well” what he was doing in a premeditated and calculated attack.

Gillen, a jobless pervert who had only two previous convictions for relatively small offences, had claimed he had no recollection of what happened.

Speaking afterwards, Detective Chief Inspector Jeff Ashton said: “I’ve never come across anything like this – a sustained attack on a vulnerable elderly lady.”

“When I listened to the facts of the case being read out again in court it sent a chill down my spine.“You could hear a pin drop when it was read out what he did.”

Gillen raped, sexually assaulted, robbed and humiliated his elderly victim – even stooping so low as to take pictures of her after committing his sick crimes.

He had forced his way into a house in Harraby on March 8 last year armed with a knife before subjecting the woman to a terrifying ordeal that lasted up to 30 minutes.

Gillen, of Sunnymeade, Upperby, had tricked his victim, who is in her 70s, into opening the door by saying a tile was loose on her roof.

He robbed her of cash before committing a series of sexual crimes, also “frogmarching” her around the house and stealing some of his victim’s underwear.

This prompted a massive investigation that saw DNA swabs taken from 743 men, nearly 900 statements taken by officers and almost 250 houses visited in a seven-month probe.

National behaviour experts and analysts were brought in and regular leaflet drops, house-to-house inquiries and media appeals were carried out.

During this, nearly 100 hours of CCTV evidence was poured over, including a clip of a man wandering along nearby Petteril Bank Road shortly after the attack.

This was discounted as the man did not match the description of the attacker. But when the case was reviewed some months later this clip was re-examined as officers were putting together an appeal to go on national television.

It was then featured on the front page of the News & Star and broadcast on BBC’s Crimewatch.

A number of tip-offs followed its screening. Gillen was arrested soon afterwards.

His victim had bravely fought back during her ordeal and bit him during the attack, leaving tell-tale blood stains and DNA evidence. It was this brave act that would prove crucial in confirming Gillen was the rapist – with the odds of it not being his DNA placed in court as being one in a billion.

DCI Ashton – who, along with his squad were commended by the judge – added: “When I saw her early on she described herself as having the Dunkirk spirit.

“She wouldn’t let him beat her. She’s had her ups and downs but she has been remarkable. It’s fair to say she has been the inspiration to the team, especially when things got difficult.

“The victim has shown outstanding strength and resilience working with us throughout the investigation, despite the attack turning her life upside down.

“I hope this will help both her and her family begin to come to terms with what has happened so they can start to rebuild their lives.”

As he was arrested Gillen had claimed he was “full of drink and drugs” when he raped and assaulted the woman.

He also told officers: “I plead guilty. This has been doing my head in, I don’t know what happened that day. I’m sorry for that lady.”

But once in an interview room with a solicitor present, Gillen remained mainly quiet, talking on a small number of matters but saying nothing about the crimes.

DCI Ashton said: “Gillen was a man clearly desperate to get it off his chest when arrested.

“But in interview Gillen showed no remorse. He hid behind his right to silence, which is his right to do.

“But because of his stance we then had to subject the victim and her family to further statements.”

Kirsten McAteer, prosecuting, told the court yesterday about the impact on the woman’s life after the attack. “She described herself as rigid with anger that someone would do this to her,” the court was told.

“She is slowly rebuilding her life. She says she knows she will never get back to how she used to be.”

DCI Ashton, speaking afterwards, said it had become clear DNA would be crucial in solving the case.

“The day the call came in to let us know Gillen was a DNA match for the offender was one of those days I will remember for the rest of my life,” he added.

“This was one of the most high profile and emotional cases I have been part of and I am extremely proud of the way my team has performed.

“For the last year we have all lived and breathed this investigation.

“I don’t think you would be human if you didn’t have your bad moments but I was confident we would catch him.

“This was a case that rocked the close-knit communities of Carlisle and I want to pay tribute to their resilience and the support they have shown us throughout.

“Hundreds of people offered information to assist us with our inquiries which undoubtedly helped us catch and convict Gillen.”

“I am delighted that today the people of Carlisle and the victim can be reassured that this dangerous man is behind bars.”

Gillen had admitted rape, two counts of sexual assault and one charge of robbing the pensioner of cash and underwear.

Judge Paul Batty QC, passing sentence, said that if the case had gone to trial the sentence would have been as high as 18 years.

He told Gillen: “You targeted an elderly and vulnerable widow. You were armed with a knife. “You subjected her to a terrifying catalogue of sexual indignities designed to utterly humiliate and degrade her, which give you some perverted sexual gratification.”

Kim Whittlestone, defending, said Gillen fully accepted his guilt and had been at “an extremely low ebb”, suffering problems with depression and alcohol.

Judge Batty added: “I believe you knew full well what you were doing but can’t bring yourself now to recall it. “These offences were premeditated and they were calculated.

“You claim you have no recollection of the events though this ordeal must have lasted half an hour.

“That elderly lady has to live with what you did to her for what remains of her life.

“You have devastated her life and that of her family.”

“This, in my judgement, is a desperately serious matter.”

Gillen was sentenced to 12 years in jail for each of the robbery and rape charges and six years for each count of sexual assault. All the sentences will be served concurrently.

The family of the victim issued a statement after the sentencing.

It read: “We would like to thank everybody involved in the search, arrest and sentencing of David Gillen.

“This includes all residents who co-operated by providing swabs for DNA, the Crimewatch team along with the viewers who responded and to DCI Ashton and his team for their help, support and hard work.”

Gillen was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and a sexual offences prevention order was also put in place.

It includes the condition Gillen must not approach any elderly people apart from members of his own family.

DCI Ashton said he wanted to commend local authority CCTV operator Andrew Henrys, who captured Gillen on camera.

Judge Batty also commended the efforts of the people whose tip-offs led to Gillen’s arrest.

First published at 11:28, Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk