Rapist who preyed on elderly was snared by his own satnav

Alexander Gable, 55, indecently assaulted three of his victims. A court heard that he “hogtied” the women, by binding their wrists and ankles together before threatening and robbing them.

However, he was caught after specialist computer software found him at, or close, to the crime scenes.

They then found his DNA at the scene and Gable was jailed for housebreaking, theft and indecent assault charges at the High Court in Edinburgh, yesterday, by temporary judge Mike O’Grady QC.

Judge O’Grady placed him on a lifelong restriction order. He will serve at least ten years in jail, but will only be released when a parole board accepts he poses no risk to society.

Police fear Gable, whose address was given in court as being a prisoner of HMP Kilmarnock, may have attacked other vulnerable women. He has 113 previous convictions including one for rape.

Judge O’Grady said he took note of a court report which said Gable, who pleaded not guilty, was at high risk of reoffending.

“You have been convicted of the most appalling crimes,” he said. “They are as premeditated, callous and as heartless it has been my misfortune to encounter.

“I am satisfied that an order for lifelong restriction is the only disposal which merits the dreadful circumstances of the case.”

Gable was convicted of assault and theft charges after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow in July. The court heard how he targeted the women who all lived alone in ground floor properties.

His first victim was an 82-year-old woman in Kilmaurs, Ayrshire.

He woke her up, tied together her wrists and ankles, and demanded the pin number for her bank card, before stealing £300.

On 7 July, 2010, he carried out a similar assault on a 74-year-old pensioner at her home in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire.

Gable forced part of a blanket into her mouth and hid phones to stop her calling for help. He again used a bank card to steal £300.

His next victim was an 87-year-old woman, 11 days later, at a property in Callander, Stirlingshire, where he stole £600.

The final incident involved a 94-year-old woman in the Highland town of Alness, who he threatened with a metal bar.

Gable fled the property after his victim said to him: “Would you treat your mum the same?”

Police found traces of his DNA on a handbag from the raid at the Kilmaurs home.

This was enough for officers to arrest Gable as he arrived back from a trip to Northern Ireland on a ferry.

Specialist software was then used to download information from the satnav device in his car. It located him at or close to the crime scenes. He was found to have been just 20 seconds away from one of the auto tellers he used to steal cash.

It emerged following the case that Gable served ten years for raping a widow in her home in the Scottish Borders in 1989.

At yesterday’s hearing, defence advocate Mark Morar said his client still maintained his innocence and believed that somebody else committed the crimes.

He said: “I am instructed by Mr Gable not to lead any mitigation today.

“Mr Gable acknowledges that these are appalling crimes, but maintains his innocence.”