A notorious Dundee rapist has been caught with two “borrowed” mobile phones in his cell at Perth Prison.
Derek Duncan was caged last year for what a judge described as “a disgraceful course of conduct” towards six women.
The 33-year-old, labelled the “highest tariff abuser” by Police Scotland’s Domestic Abuse Task Force, was found guilty of 17 charges of rape, abuse and assault.
Duncan return to court last week and admitted having illicit mobile phones and SIM cards at HMP Perth on September 15.
He was handed a concurrent four-month sentence, meaning it will run alongside his 10-year jail term and will not impact his parole chances.
Not enough phone time
Fiscal depute Joanne Ritchie told Perth Sheriff Court: “These items were found following a search of the accused’s cell.
“He was the sole occupant at the time.”
She said: “These were prison-issued phones but they had not been assigned to the accused.
“And inside both phones was an unauthorised SIM card.”
Solicitor Billy Somerville, defending, said: “Mr Duncan has been serving a lengthy custodial sentence.
“His mother had been unwell and he wanted to get in touch with her.”
Mr Somerville said: “Like other inmates, he received his prison-issued mobile phone.
“But they only get 300 minutes of talk time a month, which is about 10 minutes a week.
“In this case, he borrowed the two mobiles from other prisoners so that he had more time to phone home.”
Mr Somerville told Sheriff Robert Carr that a consecutive sentence may affect any future applications for parole.
The sheriff told Duncan: “This is a very serious matter and I think that you appreciate that.”
Litany of crimes
The High Court in Dundee heard how Duncan raped, abused, attacked and harassed multiple women across the Dundee area over a 13 year period.
The 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.
Then more and more women came forward to condemn Duncan, 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 jailed for 10 years in November 2021 and placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.
