Failed Army recruit, 21, jailed for trying to rape schoolgirl in alleyway

Ewing Gilmour, 21, approached the teenage girl in Selsey offering her £100 for sex. When she rejected his offer he stalked her and laid in wait to intercept the youngster.

At Portsmouth Crown Court prosecutor Paul Fairley said Gilmour followed the girl, overtaking her in an alleyway between Manor Road and Manor Lane in Selsey on May 29 last year.

She said ‘no, no, no’ as she realised Gilmour was about to pounce.

Gilmour, who exposed himself, then grabbed her hair when he failed to pull down her trousers.

He threatened to punch her in the face as she fought wildly to escape his clutches, falling over in the process.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, finally escaped and ran to a nearby home.

Jailing Gilmour for seven years with an extended three-year term, judge William Ashworth said: ‘It was a brazen and determined attempt to rape a vulnerable victim who was 13.’

He added: ‘You stalked her and cornered her and attacked her.’

A sexual harm prevention order bans him from contacting children for life and he must sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

Detailing the attack in the alleyway, Mr Fairley said: ‘The defendant appeared to have his hands down the front of his lower clothing, it appears to be described as rummaging.

‘She was able to see the letters of the brand on his underwear protruding above the waistband of his trousers.

‘He overtook her. He stopped her and grabbed one of her breasts with one hand.’

Gilmour, of Sparshott Road, Selsey, took the girl’s phone and said ‘any nudes on it?’ before scrolling through her phone, pulling at her trousers and then exposing himself.

Mr Fairley added: ‘He grabbed her by the back of her head, and asked did she want him to punch her? She told him it hurt.’

Unemployed Gilmour, who still denies attempted rape, then raised his fist and added ‘do you want this in your face?’ while pulling her face towards him. She bravely fought him off and managed to escape.

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At trial, Gilmour claimed he had been looking over fences to steal items and that is why the girl was able to identify his underwear as his trousers fell down exposing his FCUK underwear.

Jurors convicted Gilmour of attempted rape on November 19. The court heard he is a failed Army recruit who was medically discharged.

The Parole Board will have to consider when to release Gilmour, and only when he has served at least two thirds of the seven-year term. The three-year extended term will be served on licence.

Judge Ashworth said Gilmour’s acquittal in a 2017 rape trial at Lewes Crown Court did not feature in his sentencing decision, but meant the defendant would have known about issues around consent and the age of consent.

As he was led to the cells Gilmour turned to supporters in the public gallery and blew a kiss toward them.

Investigating officer Steve Holden said: ‘This was an attempt at a serious sexual assault and it was due to the bravery of the victim at the time, that prevented a worse outcome.

‘The victim has remained strong throughout the legal process, and I would like to thank her for that.

‘In addition, I’d like to thank all the members of the public who provided CCTV and other information at the time and during our investigation.

‘With their support, a dangerous offender – who has shown no remorse for his actions – has been identified and imprisoned.’

Gilmour's barrister said he didn't appear to be a ‘sexual deviant’.