MICHAEL GRAY FROM LOCHGELLY SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC SEXUAL ABUSE IN FIFE

A man identified as Michael Gray, who has been described as a significant threat to women, has been sentenced to a minimum of seven years in prison following a series of heinous sexual offenses committed over a span of nearly three decades. Gray, aged 50 and residing in Lochgelly, Fife, was found guilty of a total of 18 charges, which included nine counts of rape involving four different women.

The crimes for which Gray was convicted are particularly disturbing, involving degrading sexual assaults that not only inflicted physical and emotional trauma but also put the victims' lives at considerable risk. His preferred method of attack often involved physically constricting his victims' throats using his hands, and on at least one occasion, he used a belt taken from a bathrobe to carry out his assault.

These brutal acts took place at various locations across Fife, with the offences spanning from January 1987 to January 2016. The case was brought before the High Court in Glasgow, where Judge Lord Mulholland presided over the sentencing. The court heard that Gray had been an opportunist, attacking women both while they were asleep and when they were awake, often using violence and intimidation. He also forced two of his victims to engage in sexual acts with other men while he watched, further demonstrating his predatory behavior.

Gray, who also used the surname Banks, had initially denied all charges, which included rape, indecent assault, assaults causing danger to life, and a knife attack. However, a jury took only two hours to reach a verdict of guilty, confirming the overwhelming evidence against him. The jury's swift decision reflected the strength of the case presented by prosecutors.

In delivering his sentence, Lord Mulholland emphasized the severity of Gray's actions, stating that the jury had rejected Gray's denial and believed the accounts of the women involved. The judge condemned Gray's treatment of his victims as