Hanwell Man Posed as Taxi Driver to Rape Woman
Keith Gillings described as ‘violent and depraved’ as he was jailed for life
A man from Hanwell who tricked a woman into getting into his car by pretending to be a taxi driver and then raping her has been jailed.
67-year-old Keith Gillings of Hanway Road was sentenced this Friday (25 May) at Harrow Crown Court to life imprisonment for rape, with a minimum to serve of nine years before he can apply for parole.
Keith Gillings
The court heard how on 25 July 2017, a 47-year-old woman was drinking with friends in Hammersmith. At around 11pm she left the pub and got into a vehicle she believed was her taxi.
Gillings took her home where she collected money and requested he take her to a local shop to get some tobacco. Sometime later she realised that he was not going in the correct direction and when she questioned him he said he knew a different shop that would still be open.
As the car approached traffic lights and slowed down the victim attempted to get out of the vehicle which was locked. Gillings grabbed her wrists and prevented her from getting out.
They then went to a block of flats where Gillings dragged her inside to a flat on the second floor and raped her twice.
After the attack the victim managed to escape from the flat and run away. Gillings gave chase but could not catch her.
After an extensive investigation, Gillings was arrested in August and charged on 4 August, 2017, with two counts of rape.
Detective Sergeant Trevor Struthes, from the Met's Child Abuse and Sexual Offences unit (CASO), said: "Officers carried out a thorough and in-depth investigation which brought a violent and depraved man to justice. They worked tirelessly to support the victim through this ordeal and got her the best possible result when they arrested and charged Gillings.
"He will be spending nearly the remainder of his life behind bars, where he will not be able to attack and harm any other women again."
May 27, 2018