Personal trainer faces jail for ‘appalling offences’

Four ex-partners of Dundee man Michael McCash relieved to hear he can expect lengthy prison sentence

A personal trainer from Dundee has been told to expect a lengthy prison sentence after subjecting four former partners to years of horrific abuse.

Michael McCash, of Benvie Road, last week admitted a total of 12 assaults on four former partners and endangering the life of one between 2008 and 2016.

Personal trainer McCash, known as Mikie, previously ran a fitness business called Dream Believe Achieve.

Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday heard how McCash, 28, would “go ballistic” and attack his former partners, some of whom were in the courtroom yesterday morning.

In one of the assaults some time between August 2015 and August 2016, a woman was taken to A&E after he bent her arm so far back a “crack” sound was heard.

He held a knife to the throat of one woman in 2009 and another in 2012, and threatened to kill another woman in 2013 by crashing the car he was driving.

Sheriff Tom Hughes told McCash he had betrayed the trust of his victims and was lucky his case was not dealt with at the High Court.

He said: “This was an appalling series of offences.

“It was to such a degree that you are extremely fortunate to be here and not at the High Court.

“Your actions could have caused far more serious injuries to these women. “It is completely unacceptable. “They should have been able to trust you but you betrayed them.”

The sheriff paid tribute to McCash’s former partners for having the courage to come forward and said the women’s victim impact statements showed the degrees to which they had been affected.

“They felt unwanted and scared and faced great difficulty socialising with others,” he said.

“It’s easy to understand why they would have been badly depressed by your actions. I’m going to send out a very clear message to society that this will never be tolerated.

“These kind of offences will be dealt with very seriously. You should expect a long sentence to ensure the protection of the public.”

McCash’s defence solicitor Kevin Hampton said his client had alcohol and substance abuse issues during the time of the offences.

He acknowledged he had previous convictions for threatening and abusive behaviour, as well as assault at a city nightclub, but said he had not committed any offences in the last three years.

He added that he had been involved in charitable work recently and asked Sheriff Hughes to consider granting him bail.

However, McCash, who had been on bail before appearing again yesterday, was remanded in custody, drawing tearful cheers from victims in the public gallery.

Sentencing was deferred to next month to allow for the preparation of a criminal justice social work report as well as a risk report.

The assaults were estimated to have taken place in 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, and 2016.

At Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday, depute fiscal Mary Irvine said McCash punched each of the women on various occasions on the head and body.

He also spat on two women and stuffed a pair of socks into another’s mouth while punching her.

During one incident in 2015, the mother of one of the women was heard to shout “get off my daughter” as McCash pinned her down in the driveway with both hands on her neck.

In another, some time between August 2015 and August 2016, on the A90 Forfar Road, he pulled the handbrake of a car being driven by the same former partner.

The vehicle swerved, endangering both their lives, but was brought back under control by her.

In 2013, he threatened to kill one woman by crashing the car he was driving.

He will be sentenced at Dundee Sheriff Court on January 10.

I’m going to send out a very clear message to society that this will never be tolerated. SHERIFF TOM HUGHES

Michael McCash admitted a total of 12 assaults on four former partners.