Rapist jailed for attacks on women in Inverness, Tain and Dornoch

A VIOLENT rapist who carried out a campaign of abuse and assault against two women has been sentenced to ten years in prison.

Lewis Forbes repeatedly subjected his victims to brutal violence at locations in the Highlands, strangling both women, one of whom was the victim of a life-threatening attack.

A judge told Forbes (34) at the High Court in Edinburgh: “You have been convicted of an appalling series of sexual, physical and psychological abuse of two women.”

Judge Michael O’Grady KC said the rapist controlled his victims through a regime of fear and humiliation.

He said Forbes’ actions “speak volumes about your cruelty and contempt,” not only toward the two women he abused, but toward women in general.

The judge said a background report on Forbes was both “illuminating and disturbing,” adding: “You accept no responsibility, you show no insight, and you express no remorse.”

He ordered that inmate Forbes be supervised for an additional three years after his release and that he could return to prison if he violated the terms of his parole.

Forbes had previously denied a number of charges in a trial at the High Court in Inverness, but was found guilty on seven counts, including rape, assault and abusive behaviour.

A woman was the target of his abuse between October 2020 and October 2021 at addresses in Inverness and a location in Dornoch.

She was beaten on the head and body, dragged across the ground and threatened with violence, including death.

Forbes grabbed her by the neck and squeezed her throat with a punch, putting her life in danger.

He also forbade her from seeing or communicating with friends and family, dictated what she had to wear, and repeatedly sexually abused and raped her.

During a rape in a holiday park, he grabbed her by the neck, repeatedly hit her on the head and threatened to kill her.

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The second victim was also repeatedly abused at addresses in Tain in May and June 2022.

Forbes monitored the woman’s movements, denied her privacy while dressing or bathing, and denied her medical care when she was injured.

He also punched and kicked her in the head and body, repeatedly grabbed her neck and applied pressure to restrict her breathing, and at one point held her head under water.

He also raped her after pushing her, causing her to bang her head against a counter, pinning her down and strangling her.

Defence lawyer Mark Stewart KC said Forbes had maintained his innocence during the trial and continued to do so.

He said that although Forbes had a previous conviction, it was not for similar crimes but mostly for traffic offences.

Forbes was previously placed on the sex offenders register.

View our court reporting factsheet here