Rapist subjected women to appalling abuse, says judge

A rapist who repeatedly attacked two women in the Highlands has been jailed for 10 years.

A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh said Lewis Forbes, 34, controlled his victims through fear and humiliation.

Michael O'Grady KC told him: "You have been convicted of an appalling catalogue of sexual, physical and psychological abuse against two women."

The court heard the offences were committed at addresses in Inverness, Tain and Dornoch between October 2020 and June 2022.

The judge said a background report prepared on Forbes was in his view both "revealing and disturbing".

He added: "You accept no responsibility, you show no insight and you express no remorse."

Forbes, who was described as a prisoner, denied a series of charges during an earlier trial at the High Court in Inverness.

He was convicted of seven offences, including rape, assault and abusive conduct.

Forbes has been put on the sex offenders' register.

Following sentencing, Det Con Laura Murray, of Police Scotland's Public Protection Unit at Inverness, said: “Forbes’ sickening actions had a profound effect on his victims.

"I hope that his sentencing goes some way to acknowledge this and brings them some comfort as they move forward in their lives."