“Creepy Gibby” facing jail as victim speaks out

Gibson Dunbar - nicknamed Creepy Gibby - was today facing a lengthy jail term after he was convicted of abusing Jodie Turnbull and another girl, who cannot be named, in the mid-90s.

Miss Turnbull, 28, who waived her right to anonymity, said the “disgusting” abuse at the hands of the so-called family friend had led to her trying to take her own life as a teenager.

The mother-of-four faced her abuser in court during a jury trial and says she hopes Dunbar is handed the maximum sentence possible.

She also urged anyone else targeted by him to come forward.

Miss Turnbull said: “It was 11 years before I told anyone.

“He used to come into my bedroom and I’d pretend I was sleeping.

“The first time I told someone was my ex-partner in 2006 and I told my mum a year ago.

“I tried to take my own life twice as a teenager, I was off the rails.”

During the trial Dunbar had accused Miss Turnbull of lying - but a jury rejected his claims.

Miss Turnbull said she refused to hide behind a screen when she gave evidence against Dunbar during his trial.

“I said no, I wanted to stand up and face my demons.” she said. “After it all came out I had to go ahead, I couldn’t let it happen to anybody else.

“When I saw him I felt that he was a rat that needed put away, just disgusting. I thought now he has to sit and listen to how he made me feel.

“I think there may be other victims and I fear for it happening again.”

In her closing speech to the jury, prosecutor Vicki Bell said Dunbar was a “repulsive person who abused the trust of children.”

Miss Bell said: “Crime has no sell-by date in Scotland, a person can be prosecuted at any time if there is sufficient evidence.

“The witnesses gave evidence in a straightforward manner in a stressful situation.

“One of the girls called him ‘creepy Gibby’ – a nickname like this does not come from nowhere.

She added: “The Crown invites you to return a verdict of guilty in this case because the evidence overwhelmingly proves not only the guilt of Gibson Dunbar in relation to these charges but also proves that he is a manipulative person who abused the trust of children.

“There are a number of reasons, besides their demeanour, that I would submit should lead you to the overwhelming conclusion that these women were telling the truth.

“The first is the level of detail that they were able to give about what happened to them.

“And then there are the striking similarities between their descriptions of the sexual abuse.”

Dunbar, 49, of Fintry Road, Dundee, was convicted of using lewd, libidinous and indecent practices and behaviour toward Miss Turnbull.

He was also found guilty by a jury of a separate charge of using lewd and libidinous practices towards another girl under the age of 10 in the late 1980s.

Two further charges of lewd and libidinous behaviour against a separate complainer between 1995 and 1996 were found not proven by the jury, and another similar charge alleging crimes against a fourth girl between 1998 and 1999 was found not guilty.

His defence advocate Jonathan Crowe told the city’s sheriff court that the 49-year-old was “under no illusion” about the possibility of a prison term.

He added that as a result of “problems” after his conviction Dunbar was now living in South Shields, but planned to move back to Dundee.

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael deferred sentence until next month for social work background reports.

Dunbar has been placed on the sex offender’s register ahead of sentencing.