Ex-soldier jailed for campaign of abuse against woman
SpindriftA former soldier who subjected a woman to a campaign of physical and sexual abuse has been jailed for seven years.
David Law, 34, burned his victim with a lit cigarette, hurled a suitcase at her, struck her on the head and pushed her to the floor.
He also carried out sex attacks on the woman at a guest house in Dumfries which a judge described as amounting to rape "in substance, but not in legal name".
Law, from Maryhill in Glasgow, denied the engaging in a course of abusive behaviour in 2022 and 2023, but was found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow.
Judge Bruce Erroch KC told Law his actions had had an "emotional and psychological effect" on the woman, who has required counselling for anxiety.
He added: "You continue to deny any physical abuse or perpetrating any sexually harmful behaviour.
"You have displayed what has been described as 'victim blaming'.
"You maintain that it was the woman who was manipulative and controlling."
The court heard Law hounded the woman by phone and subjecting her to threats.
He was also found to have shouted and swore at her, damaged her property, refused to let her leave her home and demanded to know who she was with.
Locations in the charge included Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Dundee, Tenerife in Spain and Mauritius.
Law was also put on the sex offenders register and has been banned from going near the victim, both for an indefinite period.
His lawyer, Graeme Brown, earlier told the hearing Law "maintained his position of denial".
He added: "He still has a supportive family behind him."
