A former Dundee tree surgeon has been jailed for 13 years for raping women over a 12-year period.
Mark McLeod, 39, had been found guilty of 15 charges including rape, assault, abduction and animal cruelty following a 10-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh earlier this year.
Sentencing him at the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Summers told McLeod his past was “liberally sprinkled with crimes of violence”.
Jurors heard how McLeod preyed on his victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at addresses in Dundee and Angus.
His first victim was aged 16 when he started abusing her in November 1999. The court heard how McLeod repeatedly beat and raped the woman.
In May 2004, McLeod started abusing another woman who was 22. He raped and assaulted the woman until June the following year.
In one incident, McLeod assaulted the female by holding a knife to her body.
Between January 2009 and January 2010, McLeod assaulted another 37-year-old woman at a house in Forfar.
The jury also heard that between October 2010 and December 2015, McLeod carried out physical and sexual assaults against a woman who is now 25.
He also kicked and struck dogs during that time.
McLeod told the court he was being wrongly prosecuted.
Jurors spent a day deliberating before rejecting his claims.
At the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday, Lord Summers imposed an extended sentence of 17 years and nine months on Mcleod.
He will have to spend 13 years and nine months behind bars before he will be released on licence.
If McLeod re-offends during the four years he will be on licence, he will be sent back to prison.
Lord Summers said McLeod had a long history of offending dating back to when he was 18.
He said: “I note that you are 39 years of age and that you have a lengthy schedule of criminal convictions. Those convictions start in September 1997 when you were aged about 18 and continue up to 2013.
“The schedule is liberally sprinkled with crimes of violence as well as crimes of dishonesty.
“It is clear that you have very little respect for the law.
“In addition the evidence at trial and your criminal justice social enquiry report make it clear that you have a very poor attitude to women. Accordingly, the court is not inclined to adopt a benevolent or forgiving view of your behaviour.”
Detective Inspector Muriel Fuller of Police Scotland’s Domestic Abuse Task Force welcomed the conviction.
He said: “Mark McLeod is a violent and controlling individual.
“He offended over a period of 18 years against multiple partners committing acts of rape, assault and abduction against them.
“He is clearly dangerous and has, over a number of years, committed serious, violent offences which until now have gone unpunished.
“With this sentence McLeod must face the consequences of his actions”
“His conviction sends out a clear message that domestic abuse crimes will be robustly investigated by Police Scotland.
“We would take this opportunity to reach out to anyone who is experiencing or has experienced domestic abuse; it is never too late to report to the police or seek support and advice from one of our partner agencies such as Women’s Aid.”
