ROBERT YULE'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN GLASGOW AND HAMILTON LEAD TO SEVEN-YEAR SENTENCE
In a case that spanned decades and involved heinous acts of sexual violence, Robert Yule, aged 53, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for the brutal assaults he committed nearly 40 years ago in the Glasgow area.The conviction was handed down at the High Court in Glasgow, where the court heard detailed accounts of the two separate rape incidents that Yule was found guilty of.
The first attack took place on May 18, 1981, near Renfield Street in Glasgow.
Yule was convicted of dragging an 18-year-old woman into a secluded lane off Renfield Street after she had just left a nightclub with friends.
The victim, now 54, tearfully recounted the terrifying ordeal to prosecutor Angela Gray.
She described how Yule, who is deaf and known as Bruce, had been present at the nightclub that night.
During her testimony, she explained that the assault happened so quickly that she barely had time to react.
"It happened so fast.
I got dragged into a lane off Renfield Street," she said, her voice trembling with emotion.
When asked what she saw just before being pulled into the alley, she described Yule’s menacing appearance, noting that he had an "evil look".
She recounted how he forcefully grabbed her, pushed her against a wall, and then pulled her to the ground.
She described feeling something hit her on the head during the attack, emphasizing how rapid and violent the assault was.
Despite her efforts to defend herself and scream for help, she was overpowered by Yule’s strength.
Following the attack, the woman confided in her mother, and they went to the police station to report the incident.
However, her initial report was met with skepticism; police reportedly told her she might have been intoxicated or was out seeking men, dismissing her account at the time.
Remarkably, a decade later, the victim encountered Yule at a social event.
During this encounter, Yule reportedly apologized for his actions, stating, "I'm sorry for what happened," while laughing, which added a disturbing layer to the case.
Yule, originally from East Kilbride, claimed during the trial that the woman had consented to the sexual encounter, a statement that was vehemently contested by the victim.
The second victim, now 52, testified that Yule had raped her when she was only 14 or 15 years old.
Her assault occurred between December 1 and December 20, 1979.
She revealed that she did not disclose the incident until she was 17, when she confided in her best friend.
The court was informed that police had initiated an investigation into Yule’s activities two years prior, speaking with this second woman as part of their inquiries.
Judge Norman Ritchie QC condemned the attack near Renfield Street as a "vicious and violent rape" and expressed his sympathy for the victims.
He stated to Yule, "You have truly ruined much of her life," emphasizing the lasting impact of his actions.
The judge also highlighted that the second victim, the schoolgirl from Hamilton, was too embarrassed to report the assault at the time and has had to live with the consequences of Yule’s sexual violence.
Yule’s conviction marks a significant moment in the pursuit of justice for victims of sexual assault, especially those whose cases were delayed or dismissed due to societal attitudes at the time.
His sentencing reflects the court’s recognition of the severity of his crimes and the enduring trauma inflicted upon his victims.
