Abuser who stopped woman going to father's funeral appeals sentence

A man who "terrorised" four women during a long campaign of sexual and physical abuse is appealing his 16-year jail sentence, BBC Scotland News has learned.

Christopher Malcolm, 37, raped, attacked and abused his victims - including preventing one from attending her father's funeral - at locations in Moray and Lothian.

Malcolm was convicted after a trial and jailed at the High Court in Edinburgh last month.

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) confirmed an appeal against sentence had been lodged.

Malcolm, originally from Cockenzie, East Lothian, started his offending in 2008 and it continued until 2024.

A jury heard he subjected his first victim to repeated sexual assaults.

He also struck the woman's head off a wall.

Malcolm subjected a second woman to physical abuse at a flat in Forres.

The court heard how he punched her before choking her and pushing her against a wall.

Malcolm repeatedly raped another woman, in locations in Danderhall and Haddington, and subjected her to abusive and threatening behaviour.

He also repeatedly raped another woman, and subjected her to physical assaults.

Malcolm isolated one victim from her family and friends, and prevented her from attending her father's funeral.

The court heard how police launched an investigation after the victims came forward.

They gave evidence earlier this year and told jurors about the traumas that Malcolm had put them through.

During the court proceedings, Malcolm told jurors that one woman's account of how she had been sexually assaulted was wrong.

He added: "It did not happen. It was consensual."

Jurors returned guilty verdicts on a total of 12 charges.

They included rape, sexual assault, assaulting women to the danger of life, as well as threatening and abusive behaviour.

Judge Alison Stirling praised the victims for their courage.

She said Malcolm described himself as a "control freak", and that jail was the only option.

He was ordered to be supervised by the authorities for three years following his release from custody.

Malcolm was also placed on the sex offenders register for life.