Gary Yuill: Rapist jailed after entering home wearing ski mask

Gary Yuill, 45, woke the sleeping woman and questioned her before she made a 999 call to emergency services in a plea for help.

The woman fell asleep on a sofa at her home in East Lothian and awoke to be confronted by the masked intruder.

She told the High Court in Edinburgh: "I opened my eyes and he was basically nose to nose with me.

"He had his ski mask and also had gloves on."

She asked him what he was doing and repeatedly asked him to leave, but Yuill began quizzing her about an earlier visitor to her home, she said.

The woman said that a friend did visit her earlier and told the court: "He was obviously watching the house. I was terrified."

She said she was "scared" and added: "He had his hand on my leg. I didn't know what he was thinking."

During a call to emergency services, she said that the intruder was standing over her wearing a balaclava as she said: "You need to get here fast."

READ MORE: Rapist who entered victim's home wearing ski mask jailed

She told the court that Yuill did remove the mask before leaving her home during the incident in May 2021.

The woman said that she knew he was previously arrested and subject to court conditions not to come near her home. She said: "Clearly he has no regard for the law."

Yuill was granted bail three days before at Edinburgh Sheriff Court with conditions not to approach or contact the woman or seek to enter her home.

She said that Yuill previously repeatedly assaulted her and subjected her to rapes. She said: "He would say horrible, disgusting things. He was paranoid. He was constantly accusing me of cheating all the time.

"He would pin me against the wall, screaming in my face. He would slap me, punch me, knock me to the ground."

The woman and three others were subjected to a catalogue of depravity and brutality by Yuill over a 17-year period between 2004 and 2021.

'We are survivors of you'

Yuill, formerly of Drummohr Avenue, Wallyford, denied a series of charges at an earlier trial but was convicted of 21 offences, including nine rapes, an attempted rape and two indecent assaults. He was also found guilty of breaching bail by entering the woman's home in May 2021.

Yuill's offending spree took place in Dunbar, Haddington and Wallyford, as well as in Edinburgh.

A judge told the persistent sex offender: "The nature and number of the offences of which you have been convicted leaves me in no doubt there is no alternative to a significant custodial sentence."

Lady Wise said that his conduct was "appalling behaviour" and added: "All four women were to some extent vulnerable."

She said: "I have read a victim impact statement from one of the complainers which illustrates very clearly the long-lasting impact your behaviour has had on her."

The judge ordered that Yuill should be under supervision for a further four-year period when he will be on licence in the community and can be returned to jail if he breaches its conditions.

Lady Wise made non-harassment orders banning Yuill indefinitely from contacting or attempting to contact the women. Yuill was told that he would be on the sex offenders' register for an indefinite period.

Defence counsel Rosalyn McTaggart told the court that Yuill continued to maintain his innocence.

As Yuill was led off to cells at the High Court, one woman called out to him from the public benches in the courtroom: "We are not victims any more. We are survivors of you."

Following Yuill's sentencing, Detective Inspector Laura White, of Police Scotland, said: “Yuill subjected these women to horrific crimes and I would like to thank them for their co-operation as our investigations were ongoing.

"Hopefully today’s verdict will allow them to move on from this part of their lives.

“I would urge anyone who has been the victim of sexual violence to come forward and report it to us, regardless of the passage of time. We, alongside partner agencies, will support you through the process, investigate thoroughly and bring those responsible to justice.”