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Abuser who struck in Caithness and Sutherland jailed over 'vile' crimes


By Court Reporter

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Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald heard the case at Inverness Sheriff Court.
Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald heard the case at Inverness Sheriff Court.

A sheriff who jailed a domestic abuser for two years said the evidence of three victims was "harrowing" and "some of the worst examples I have seen in some time".

Daniel Curry, now of Irvon Hill Road, Wickford in Essex, was convicted of offences which took place in various locations including in Caithness and Sutherland.

The 37-year-old was appearing for sentence at Inverness Sheriff Court after he was convicted by a jury following a trial on seven charges of violence and derogatory behaviour towards the women.

He was found guilty of two breaches of the peace, three of assault and two of threatening behaviour.

He was remanded in custody on June 29 by Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald pending a background report.

The jury heard the offences took place between 2006 and 2018 in Caithness, Sutherland, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Cupar in Fife.

Sheriff Macdonald told Curry: "They were of significant violence and vile abuse, consistent and repeated.

"You behaved appallingly towards people you were in a relationship with, spitting on them, name calling, and assaults all designed to belittle, humiliate and control your partners."

Defence solicitor advocate Mike Chapman said his client had not been in any trouble since leaving Scotland five years ago and was in a new relationship which had attracted no adverse police attention.

"He has given up consuming alcohol because it was not having a beneficial effect on him. He started drinking when he was only 12 years old and it became a significant negative issue in his life."

But Sheriff Macdonald said there was no alternative to a custodial sentence because of the serious and prolonged nature of the offending.

The jury had been told one of his victims was heavily pregnant when he tried to throttle her, made her vomit, rip off her clothing and spit on her on different occasions.

On other occasions, he threatened to rape her, smashed her personal possessions, threaten to burn down the caravan where they were staying with her and her children still in it. He also threatened to kill her family.

A second victim suffered verbal abuse and heard him threatening to harm her brother. He also spat on her.

His first victim was called derogatory names, he damaged her property and threatened to harm her family.

On other occasions, he would seize her by the neck restricting her breathing, seize her by the neck, body or hair and drag her, spit on her face and throw items towards her.


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