‘Despicable’ domestic abuser is finally jailed after reign of violence

Stephen Conway threatened to pour boiling water over an ex-partner

A heroic dog punched several times as it tried to save its owner from a lifethreatening attack was so traumatised by the ordeal it had to be put down.

Serial domestic abuser Stephen Conway, 37, was jailed for four years and six months yesterday.

Conway, of Denvale Gardens, Kennoway, Fife, was found guilty of a campaign of violence against women he had been involved in relationships with.

Conway subjected two women to systematic abuse over a seven-year period and endangered their lives by throttling them and savagely beating them up.

Sheriff William Wood also imposed a five year non-harassment order on Conway and paid tribute to the remarkable bravery of his victims for speaking up against him.

He said: “Anyone who heard the trial could not fail to be moved by the courage of these ladies in coming forward to speak about your conduct. You were manipulative and controlling. Your conduct has been absolutely despicable. It can only be punished by a substantial custodial sentence.”

Amanda Barbour wept as she told the jury her dog was punched several times as he tried to save her when Conway launched one of his regular attacks.

She said Enzo – a collie/staffordshire terrier cross – was so traumatised he eventually had to be put down.

The jury found him guilty of attacking Ms Barbour several times between 2010 and 2015 at their homes in Kirkcaldy and endangering her life.

Another former partner of Conway’s, Kim McLeish, told the jury how she felt she was going to die during one of his savage and sustained attacks.

He was found guilty of injuring Ms McLeish repeatedly between July 1 2016 and March 29 2017 and throttling her in the same way he had attacked Ms Barbour.

Conway denied all the charges but he was also found guilty of holding a hot kettle over her head and threatening to pour the boiling water over her.

However, he was cleared of one charge relating to an assault on a nineyear-old girl.

Solicitor Steve Lafferty, defending, said: “Clearly these are significant matters he has been found guilty of.

“He clearly has significant problems.”

Youwere manipulative and controlling. Your conduct has been absolutely despicable. SHERIFF WILLIAM WOOD ON STEPHEN CONWAY, PICTURED