A serial domestic abuser who hit one of his victims in the eye with a banana has been told to expect a jail sentence.
Craig Milne led a campaign of abuse against four former partners over a 13-year period in which he poked, punched, slapped, degraded and threatened them.
Milne, 44, told Dundee Sheriff Court he believed it was a “conspiracy” against him and all four of his accusers had been out to get him.
Sheriff Gregor Murray said evidence presented to the court had been some of the most “convincing” he had heard in his ten-and-a-half years in the job before finding him guilty of seven charges.
‘Bushtucker trial’ meal
Giving evidence at his trial, Milne told the court he had not committed any of the abusive acts alleged.
He accused one of his victims of having a drinking problem.
He said he had come home one evening to the house they shared to find she had put his dinner in the blender, “like a bushtucker trial”.
Milne, of Manor Place, Broughty Ferry, said one of his victim’s had got bruises on her body after “falling down the stairs”.
Depute fiscal Rachel Hill asked: “Your position is… none of what they alleged happened?”
Milne responded: “That is right.”
This prompted Sheriff Murray to ask: “Are you saying this is a conspiracy?”
Milne replied: “That’s what I would say, yes.”
Jail at ‘forefront’ of sheriff’s mind
Finding Milne guilty, Sheriff Murray said: “There are two things I want to say to you here.
“I have sat here (on the bench) for ten-and-a-half years and I found one of the witnesses who gave evidence here to be one of the most convincing witnesses I have ever heard.
“I find you guilty of all the charges.
“I am going to defer sentence for criminal and social work reports and a restriction of liberty assessment.
“A custodial sentence is very much at the forefront of my mind.”
Lengthy list of crimes
Milne was found guilty at trial of seven charges of domestic abuse against four women.
Between September 1, 2007 and February 28 at Dalhousie Gardens, he grabbed the first by the throat and punched her on the body.
Between March 1, 2008 and November 30, 2010 at an address in Duntrune, he assaulted the same woman by grabbing her by the throat, strangling her, pulling her hair, and punching and kicking her on the head and body.
Between January 1, 2013 and May 1, 2015 in Silver Link Avenue, he acted in a threatening and abusive manner and threw a hammer at a second woman.
Between January 2016 and March 31, 2019 at Fettercairn Drive, he assaulted a third by pushing her on the chest, punching her, slapping her on the body, kicking her on the legs, spitting in her face and pulling her hair.
During the same time period at the same address he repeatedly shouted and swore at her.
Between April 2019 and December 31, 2020 at Fettercairn Drive, he shout and swore at her, poked her on the chest, punched her and slapped her on the body, kicked her on the legs and pulled her hair.
Between June 2020 and October 2020 at Manor Place and Aberdour Place, he slapped a cigarette out of his fourth victim’s mouth, shouted at her, made derogatory remarks, pushed her, struck her on the eye with a banana, struck her with a mobile phone and poured a can of beer on her head.
Milne will return to Dundee Sheriff Court for sentencing on March 16.
