A thug from Dundee who held his bride-to-be against her will for several hours asked to be sent to prison because he wanted to “atone” for what he did.
A sheriff granted Michael Dougan’s request and jailed him for 13 months for detaining the woman and attacking her in his home.
As he was led away to start his sentence, grateful Dougan told Sheriff Alistair Carmichael: “Thank you, your honour.”
Solicitor Kevin Hampton, defending, told Dundee Sheriff Court: “He is shocked at how he acted that evening.
“He wants to move on and atone for what he has done.
“He wants to go to prison to make good for what he has done.”
He told the court Dougan and his partner had been together for several years and had a “very good festive period together”, during which they had become engaged.
However, he flew into a rage when he discovered she had a second mobile phone which she appeared to be using to communicate with another man behind his back.
Mr Hampton said: “He had bought her a new phone for Christmas and then comes across another mobile device.
“He checks the messages and finds some suggesting infidelity.”
Abuse recorded on phone
Fiscal depute Gavin Letford told the court a different version of events, which involved the victim finding messages from another woman on Dougan’s phone.
“She was upset and an argument took place,” Mr Letford said.
“He locked the door and put the key in his housecoat.
“The accused refused to let her leave.”
He demanded she carry out a sex act and when she refused he called her “a slut, whore and ginger ba***rd”.
He got a pair of pliers and used them to tear her coat apart.
The woman had secretly recorded the abuse on her phone and when she contacted police, Dougan eventually opened the door and allowed her to leave.
As she walked past him, he spat in her face.
Mr Letford said the police found the victim “extremely distressed and crying” and added her ordeal began at 9pm on January 14 2021 and carried on until the early hours of the morning.
Imprisoned
Dougan, 38, of Lilybank Terrace, Dundee, admitted abducting and assaulting his partner at his home in Dundee on 14 or 15 January last year.
He also admitted acting in a threatening or abusive manner, calling her names, chasing her and ripping her coat with pliers.
Sheriff Carmichael said: “A custodial sentence is the only way to deal with this because of your record and the serious nature of the behaviour.”
