Man who raped and attempted to murder partner is jailed for 12 years

A man who raped and attempted to murder his partner during more than a decade of repeated abuse has been jailed for 12 years.

David MacDonald, 41, was found guilty of multiple charges of physical and domestic abuse directed at his estranged wife Danielle.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard during the attacks MacDonald spat on his wife, isolated her from friends, took money and bank cards from her and struck her head against a lamp post.

Sentencing, judge Thomas Welsh KC told MacDonald he had subjected his partner to "a shocking and prolonged ordeal" of rape, sexual assault, physical assault and domestic abuse.

MacDonald who has previous convictions for violent crime and domestic abuse, had denied a series of charges during an earlier trial.

He gave evidence at the trial and denied any abuse of the victim, maintained that sex was consensual and that he acted in self-defence at the time of the attempted murder, but was not believed by the jurors.

MacDonald's former partner Danielle previously described him as a "disgusting beast" during an interview with STV News.

The court heard how, between October 2010 and December 2023, MacDonald had left bruises on Danielle on numerous occasions.

These were seen by her mother, her close friend and people who she worked with.

The abusive behaviour culminated on 18 December 2023 when MacDonald slapped, punched and kicked Danielle, dropped a weight on her and strangled her in an attempted murder bid.

Police were called to the house and MacDonald was physically pulled off his partner by a police officer.

Danielle was taken to A&E with extensive injuries, including bone fractures on her upper body.

The court heard how a surgeon, who gave evidence to the jury in the trial, said the injuries were typical of those seen in "high-energy road traffic accidents".

Sentencing, judge Thomas Welsh KC said: "The fractures alone show the extent of the force you used, on that occasion, in your vicious and sustained attack against your then partner."

The judge said there were also multiple instances of coercive control which caused emotional and psychological harm and multiple physical assaults, including choking and burning parts of her body with lit cigarettes.

He told MacDonald, who watched proceedings via a TV link to prison: "The violence used by you against your partner was always associated with the consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol and drugs like cocaine."

A social worker who prepared a background report on MacDonald said his abusive behaviour appeared to give him "a sense of control" and he was highly likely to continue to act in that way in future intimate relationships.

The judge imposed an extended sentence of 16 years on MacDonald, with a custodial term of 12 years.

He ordered that MacDonald should be under supervision and monitored in the community for a further four-year period when he will be on licence and can be returned to prison if he breaches its conditions.

The sentence was backdated to 5 February 2024 when he was remanded in custody.

He was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.