A Dundee man was jailed for nine years at the High Court yesterday after being found guilty of rape charges.
James Donaldson, 36, subjected his victims to violence, threats and controlling behaviour as well as sexual assault.
A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh told him: “Your conduct towards these women was abhorrent.”
Lord Uist said Donaldson was one of a number of men who have recently been convicted in the High Court of such sexual and physical maltreatment of women.
He said: “This court has to make clear that violence of this sort against women is wholly intolerable.”
He pointed out that Donaldson has a string of previous convictions, including nine offences of assault.
Donaldson, formerly of Haldane Crescent in Dundee, was found guilty of raping two women at addresses in Arbroath and in his home city on various occasions between 2012 and 2017.
He was also found guilty of two further charges of sexually assaulting the women and further offences of attacking them. He had denied the offences.
During his trial he admitted further charges of breach of the peace, stalking and abusive behaviour.
He was acquitted of three further rape offences and an allegation of sexual coercion by compelling one rape victim to take part in sex with other men.
Lord Uist told Donaldson he would be placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely following his sentencing.
The judge told jurors: “You had to listen to some very distasteful, indeed disgusting, evidence, but I am afraid cases of this nature are coming before the High Court in very great numbers.”
One woman said: “He would get angry, shout, spit and become violent.” Another said he would smash up her house in anger if she said no to sex.
One victim, aged 42, said of Donaldson: “He started getting violent and aggressive. There were accusations all the time, name calling, getting in my face, shouting in my face, spitting on me.”
She said: “I wasn’t allowed to flick my hair or anything like that because that was flirting with people. He said Google said it was true, so it must be. Alcohol made him worse. He would be more aggressive.
“I wasn’t allowed to go out on my own because he would kick off and I would get accused of sleeping with people. I would get accused of all sorts,” she said.
She added: “He is a scary guy. He is scary when he is aggressive.”
She said he spat in her face “numerous times” but “only lifted his hands to me two times”.
The woman said she had told him to stop during sex but he would carry on.
Tayside Police Division welcome sentence handed to Donaldson
Detective Inspector Muriel Fuller said: “James Donaldson offended against his partners over a period of nine years, committing serious physical and sexual abuse against them.
“His behaviour towards his victims was violent and degrading. They lived in fear of him. His conviction and sentence should send out a clear message that domestic abuse related crime will be robustly and sensitively investigated by Police Scotland.
“I would like to take this opportunity to reach out to anyone who has experienced or is experiencing domestic abuse. It is never too late to report to the police or seek support from one of our partner agencies such as Women’s Aid.
“I would like to commend the victims who assisted the police with this enquiry. They should be commended for their bravery and courage in doing so.”
