Abusers jailed for 61 years after 200 investigations

COPS have jailed five abusers for a combined sentence of 61 years during an intense domestic violence investigation.

Work carried out by Police Scotland’s Domestic Abuse Taskforce (DATF) across the country revealed that some domestic abuse cases spanned decades and included both sexual offences and physical attacks.

The DATF launched more than 200 investigations and imposed a range of custodial sentences, Orders of Lifelong Restriction (OLR) and Non-Harassment Orders (NHOs) on offenders.

William Sproul, 61, from Lanarkshire was sentenced to 14 years and received a 20-year NHO on May 6.

Sproul was convicted of numerous sexual offences, assaults and Section 1 of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 against six women, including two children, over a 30-year period.

Christopher James, also from Lanarkshire, was given a 13-year extended sentence and a 15-year NHO on May 5 for committing many offences against two women.

These crimes included sexual offences and assault, injury and danger to life.

Officers responded to 63,093 domestic abuse calls in the period of 2021 to 222, 43% of which resulted in a crime being recorded.

Of those crimes, 1760 were recorded under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018.

Detective chief superintendent Sam Faulds, head of public protection at Police Scotland, said: “Domestic abuse remains a significant priority for Police Scotland.

“We take a call every nine minutes on average and our officers are highly trained to respond professionally and effectively.

“Domestic abuse takes many forms. It can be physical and sexual but also psychological, emotional and financial. An abuser’s intent is to control and coerce their victim.”

DATF investigations also resulted in prison sentences and NHOs for Gary Dysart, 40, in the Forth Valley area, Sean Hartley, 35, in the Highlands and Islands, and Nicolas Hain, 41, in the east.

DCS Faulds added: “Every case is traumatic for the victim, the effects are long-lasting for them and for their families, and especially so for children. No child should have to witness to domestic abuse.

“Preventing domestic abuse is our ultimate aim. We work closely with our partners, not only to improve our own response but also to educate against and to prevent domestic abuse.

“A key part of prevention is the disclosure scheme which has helped thousands of people make an informed choice about whether to continue or end an abusive relationship.”