Ex-soldier sent back to prison

Richard Beech carried out assault and made threats in Dundee and Angus

A former soldier was jailed for a year yesterday for committing a string of offences months after he was freed from prison.

Richard Beech, right, attacked a man and made threats in May after serving a four-year jail sentence for violence against former partners, imposed on him in 2017.

Beech, of Dundee, was also ordered to be under supervision for a further two years and his licence under the extended sentence is due to expire in 2022.

Beech, 36, was brought back before a judge at the High Court in Edinburgh and made the subject of a prison return order for 365 days.

The court could have sent him back to jail for a maximum period of 668 days.

Lady Scott, who originally jailed him at the High Court for the physical abuse of former partners, told Beech: “I consider an order to return is appropriate and for a substantial period.”

But she added she took into account his personal circumstances and “ongoing mental health difficulties”.

Beech was released from his earlier High Court sentence on March 3 but went on to commit the further crimes.

He was found guilty of assaulting a male by punching him on the head on May 29 at North Street, Forfar, following a trial at Dundee Sheriff Court.

He was also convicted of making a call at a cottage at Ladywell Farm, Logie by Kirriemuir, on May 3 in which he repeatedly swore and uttered a threat to kill.

He was further convicted of behaving in a threatening manner at North Street,

Forfar, on May 29 and at the cottage on the following day.

Lady Scott said the latest offences were “to a degree” similar to the course of conduct which had been before her at Beech’s earlier High Court trial.

In the earlier case, he was convicted of physical abuse against six women between 2007 and 2013.

He throttled three of the victims during attacks and one woman said she thought she was going to die.

Defence solicitor advocate John Keenan said that Beech had suffered psychological problems as a consequence of his experiences in the Army and was experiencing anxiety and depression.

Beech has still to be sentenced at Dundee Sheriff Court for the offences committed following his release, but Lady Scott ruled that the prison return order should run concurrently with any sentence imposed.

Lady Scott told Beech: “I hope that you can use the time in custody to get support for your mental health difficulties and to address your conduct.”