A Dundee monster who raped and assaulted women over 13 years did not think he was doing anything wrong, according to the police who investigated his horrific offending.
Derek Duncan raped, abused, attacked and harassed multiple women across the Dundee area.
He was labelled the “highest tariff abuser” by Police Scotland’s Domestic Abuse Task Force, which brought him to justice with the aid of brave survivors’ testimony.
After he was first reported, more and more women came forward to condemn the 32-year-old, who has abused women throughout his adult life.
Over a period of four months, the Domestic Abuse Task Force was able to build a strong case against Duncan, before arresting him in July 2020.
He was found guilty of 17 charges of rape, abuse and assault at the High Court in Dundee last month.
He was sentenced on Friday to 10 years in prison and placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.
Rapist showed no remorse
Duncan’s latest litany of crimes was brought to the attention of the authorities in April 2020 when one of his targets came to police and reported his abuse.
Police referred her to the Domestic Abuse Task Force, which investigates brutes who pose the most significant risk to tackle and eradicate such violence against women.
With each woman who came forward, task force officers were referred to another of Duncan’s former partners.
Detective Inspector Gordon Patullo heads the task force team.
He said: “He was found guilty of 17 charges.
“That it in itself says a lot about the strength of the case against him.
“What we learned about Derek through the whole investigation was that he couldn’t see he’d done anything wrong.”
After his arrest and charge, Duncan showed no remorse or understanding of the depraved cruelty of his actions.
Judge Lord Weir said during sentencing on Friday: “It’s apparent to me to a significant degree you don’t fully accept responsibility for the offences of which you were convicted.”
Mr Patullo said: “He didn’t understand what he’d done wrong.
“He thought that was how you treat a girl.
“Sadly, it’s not unusual with the people we investigate at times.”
Survivor evidence was critical
Mr Patullo strongly emphasised the importance of the evidence of the women in bringing the serial rapist to prison.
“It is witness testimony that’s brought Derek Duncan to trial.
“It very much depends on witness testimony and having witnesses having been through similar acts then there’s this pattern of behaviour and that’s where we get our evidence from to convict him.”
Duncan is no stranger to Dundee courts or police, having been subject to previous convictions for violence and abuse.
In 2013 he was convicted in Dundee Sheriff Court for setting a dog on a girl with cerebral palsy, causing her life-changing injuries.
Sheriff Elizabeth Munro sentenced him to three and a half years for the vicious assault in which Duncan punched the girl repeatedly and encouraged the bull terrier to savagely bite her.
The row had started over a takeaway meal she had thrown away.
The victim’s ear was left hanging off her lobe and required 45 stitches to reattach.
Sheriff Elizabeth Munro called Duncan “vicious” and “self absorbed”.
Fear of not being believed
Mr Patullo agreed Duncan had a particular reputation for cruelty and violence.
“He’s got a reputation of being violent, of being a bully and he is an intimidating character for a lot of guys, let alone a female who is potentially alone with him.
“The vast majority of abuse we discovered hadn’t been reported to police.”
Duncan was able to get away with his depravity over many years, Mr Patullo believes, because many victims feared not being believed.
He said: “Several of the females we approached were very open straight away and were quite happy to speak and the reason they didn’t speak was that they didn’t think they’d be believed.”
Help and advice available
Mr Patullo stressed the importance for victims of abuse to come forward and report their abusers.
“It is never too late to report this.”
Fraser Gibson, Crown Office Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, said: “Thanks to the courage and composure of his victims, Derek Duncan is now facing justice for his brutal crimes.
“While his actions are likely to have a lasting impact on their lives, I hope the sentence imposed goes some way towards providing resolution for them.
“The Crown is committed to the effective prosecution of sexual offences and today’s outcome follows many months of thorough and sensitive work by police and our expert prosecutors.
“I would urge anyone who has been the victim of similar offending to come forward and seek support.”
There is advice for those who are suffering or who have suffered, sexual crime at the Police Scotland website here.
Other services such as Scottish Women’s Aid, Rape Crisis Scotland and Victim Support Scotland are also available.
