A serial domestic abuser who attacked three girlfriends and battered a vulnerable man was given a custodial sentence for nearly three years.
David Goldsworthy, 19, was sent to detention for 35 months at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court yesterday.
Goldsworthy threatened one girlfriend with an eight-inch knife and grabbed another by the throat, squeezing it “to the danger of her life”.
He also stalked another of his partners who is registered disabled and has anxiety and depression bombarding her with texts, phone calls and social networking messages when she did not respond to him.
Goldsworthy, a prisoner at HMP YOI Polmont, admitted assaulting his first victim, on August 1 2011 at the Cadham Centre in Glenrothes by punching her.
He also admitted assaulting a different ex-girlfriend between October 1 and October 3 2012 at Macbeth Road in Dunfermline by brandishing a knife at her.
He further admitted assaulting another former partner on November 19 2013 at South Street, Kingskettle, by seizing her by the throat and endangering her life.
As well as the domestic abuse offences, Goldsworthy admitted physically abusing a man at Dunearn Drive in Kirkcaldy between May 1 2011 and October 31 2012 by repeatedly punching him on the head and body. Sheriff McCulloch told Goldsworthy: “You have engaged in a number of relationships and when they hit difficulties, you’ve turned to violence.
“Your behaviour towards people, both male and female, is unacceptable, often violent. I find little to condone it in any way.”
Goldsworthy’s solicitor Kelly Howe told Sheriff McCulloch her client had been placed in foster care at a young age and aged nine was already drinking alcohol and had drug issues.
She said Goldsworthy had been diagnosed with chaotic personality disorder. Depute fiscal Beverley Adam told Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court the accused met and began a relationship with his first victim in 2011.
Ms Adam said: “On one occasion he punched her on the face and she was seen to stumble back, sustaining bruising to her face.”
Goldsworthy next threatened a new girlfriend in October 2012.
“They were at a friend’s house in October 2012 when at 10.30pm the accused went into the kitchen and returned with a silver kitchen knife with an eight inch blade,” Ms Adam said.
“He walked over to the complainer and brandished it at her.”