Peter Gilbert

Peter Gilbert, a 54-year-old man from Plymouth, was sentenced to 20 years in prison at Truro Crown Court for a series of horrific sexual offences against a woman. The attacks, which took place across locations in Newquay, Truro, and Plymouth in Cornwall and Devon, involved repeated instances of rape, physical violence, and psychological coercion.

Gilbert's campaign of abuse was described by Judge Simon Carr as calculated and intimidating. He burned his victim with cigarettes, leaving permanent scarring on her arms, and threatened her with weapons to ensure compliance. In one particularly disturbing incident, Gilbert filmed himself committing an oral rape on the victim at her home, carefully ensuring she was visible in the footage while concealing his own identity. He later weaponised this recording by showing it to others and using it to deepen her fear and maintain control over her, telling her she had 'no choice' but to comply.

The victim reported freezing in terror during the assaults, with Gilbert boasting about his physical size and strength to dominate her. The offences included three counts of rape, for which he was convicted by a jury following a trial. Gilbert also pleaded guilty to breaching a court order and sharing an intimate video with intent to cause distress, alongside conviction for one non-sexual offence.

The case came to light in June 2022 when Gilbert voluntarily walked into Charles Cross police station in Plymouth on an unrelated matter. During custody, he became agitated and confessed to committing a sexual offence. Police then contacted the victim, who disclosed the multiple rapes, including one following a night out in Newquay. Gilbert made no comment during his police interview but had previously made additional threats of violence.

At sentencing on 18 February 2026, Judge Carr highlighted how Gilbert preyed upon his victim with extreme violence. In addition to the 20-year custodial sentence, Gilbert was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and subjected to a restraining order to protect the victim. Detective Sergeant Megan Cornish of Devon and Cornwall Police described Gilbert as 'an extremely dangerous rapist and sexual predator who used violence and threats in order to rape his victim', praising the victim's courage in coming forward, which enabled his conviction. The case was reported by DevonLive and Birmingham Live.