A DRUNKEN ‘monster’ has been jailed for 14 years for violent attacks and sexual assaults involving two female victims in Bradford decades ago.

Given his age and ill-health, David Gillespie, 71, would never be released from prison, his barrister told Bradford Crown Court today.

Gillespie, of Convent Walk, Sheffield, was sentenced for buggery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and three offences of indecent assault.

He had 19 previous convictions for 46 offences that included violent sexual offences against other women. The court heard that he had struck a woman with a bottle before raping her at knifepoint, punched an ex-partner in the face and headbutted another female victim.

Prosecutor David McGonigal said Gillespie pleaded guilty to the Bradford offences on the third day of his trial after the two female complainants had given evidence in court and been cross-examined.

Katy Rafter, Gillespie’s barrister, said he owned up just before the Crown closed its case after reflecting on what he had heard in court. He described himself as ‘a monster’ when in drink. He had been addicted to alcohol and gambling decades ago and was now deeply ashamed.

Gillespie was on remand in HMP Doncaster and would never be released from jail given the sentence that would be passed, Miss Rafter said. He was now 71 and in poor health.

Recorder Simon Kealey KC said Gillespie had violently attacked one woman in drink, punching and kicking her, putting a wire around her neck and beating her with a slipper. She was left battered and bruised.

The court heard of an incident where Gillespie had sexually abused a victim on one occasion, also punching her so hard that she fell on to a table and shards of glass became embedded in her.

He was arrested and interviewed in 2020 and denied any wrongdoing until part-way through the trial.

Recorder Kealey said Gillespie had caused long-lasting and severe damage and forced the two women to give evidence in court.

He was older now and in ill-health and there had been a considerable gap in his offending in his later years. But he had confessed to being ‘a monster in drink’ at the time.

Gillespie will serve up to two-thirds of the 14 years before being assessed for parole.

He must register as a sex offender for life and an indefinite restraining order prohibits him from approaching or having any communication with his victims.