A woman has revealed how she endured years of abuse and threats from her violent ex-partner, who was finally jailed for his crimes. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she was tormented by the man, who controlled every aspect of her life and made her fear for her safety.
Abusive relationship
The woman met the man, who is 38 years old, in 2019 and they started a relationship. She soon discovered that he had a history of domestic violence and had been convicted of assaulting his previous partners. He also had a problem with alcohol and drugs, which made him more aggressive and unpredictable.
The woman said he would constantly accuse her of cheating on him, check her phone and social media accounts, and isolate her from her friends and family. He would also verbally abuse her, call her names, and threaten to kill her or harm her children. He would sometimes hit her, choke her, or throw objects at her.
She said she tried to leave him several times, but he would always find her and beg her to take him back. He would also threaten to kill himself or her if she left him. She said she felt trapped and helpless in the relationship.
Escalating violence
The abuse escalated in 2023, when the man moved in with the woman and her children. He became more violent and paranoid, and would often lock her in the house or take away her keys and phone. He would also force her to have sex with him, even when she was ill or in pain.
In February 2023, he attacked her with a knife, cutting her hand and arm. He then locked her in the bathroom and told her to clean up the blood. He also threatened to stab her in the neck if she called the police. She managed to escape and seek help from a neighbour, who called the police.
The man was arrested and charged with assault, but he was released on bail with conditions not to contact the woman or go near her home. However, he ignored the bail conditions and continued to harass and threaten the woman. He sent her hundreds of messages and calls, some of which were abusive and others which were apologetic. He also showed up at her home and workplace, and followed her in his car.
Court case and sentence
The man was arrested again in March 2023, after he breached his bail conditions for the 15th time. He was remanded in custody and pleaded guilty to 16 charges, including assault, breach of the peace, stalking, and breach of bail. He also admitted to having a previous conviction for domestic abuse in 2018.
The man appeared at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday, where he was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison. The judge described his behaviour as “appalling” and “cowardly”, and said he had shown no remorse for his actions. He also imposed a non-harassment order, which bans the man from contacting the woman for 10 years.
The woman said she was relieved that the man was finally behind bars, and that she could start to rebuild her life. She said she hoped her story would encourage other victims of domestic abuse to seek help and report their abusers to the police. She said she was grateful for the support she received from the police, the Crown Office, and the domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid.
