Abuser targeted ex from behind bars

Adomestic abuser who kept tormenting his victim from behind bars has avoided being sent back to prison.

Gary Gallacher threatened and abused his former partner over the phone and in person while he was serving time, including while on home leave.

When he was freed from prison he stole designer shoes and handbags valued at £10,000 from her home in a bid to exert control over her, although he later gave them back.

The relentless abuse was fuelled by a paranoid belief she was cheating on him, a court heard.

Gallacher, 34, whose address was given as care of Addiewell Prison, was handed a community sentence at Livingston Sheriff Court.

He earlier pled guilty to engaging in a course of behaviour which was abusive of his former partner between June 1 2020 and February 8 2022.

Neil Martin, prosecuting, said Gallacher had repeatedly phoned the woman and persuaded other people to contact her on his behalf when she refused to answer.

He kept accusing her of being unfaithful in a series of derogatory and threatening messages.

After being freed he forced her to give him the PIN for her mobile phone so he could find out who she had been calling and messaging.

Mr Martin said Gallacher was in a car with the woman when he locked the doors and continued driving for about an hour, refusing to let her out.

More serious allegations deleted from his guilty plea included assaults, threats to stab her, shoot her exhusband, throw acid at her face and falsely allege she brought controlled drugs into a prison,

Denials that he instructed her to place a camera in her bedroom to allow him to spy on her and threatened to share intimate images of her with others were also accepted.

Chris Miller KC, defending, said Gallacher was “remorseful and ashamed of his actions” and would welcome social work supervision to help him.

Sheriff Valerie Mays sentenced Gallacher to a community payback order comprising two years of supervision, to comply with a rehabilitation programme for domestic abusers and 300 hours of unpaid work.

In addition, she imposed a non-harassment order barring him from contacting or attempting to contact the complainer for five years.

SENTENCED: Gary Gallacher was spared jail. BY VIC RODRICK