The decision to release wife-beating former MSP Bill Walker from jail early is “utterly appalling” and sends out the wrong message to victims of domestic abuse, according to the woman who won his former seat at Holyrood.
Dunfermline Labour MSP Cara Hilton told The Courier she was “extremely disappointed” to hear that Walker will be released from jail this week, after serving only half his 12-month sentence.
She said it was “scant justice” for victims that a man who showed no remorse when he was sent down for his violent behaviour towards women is being freed early.
The disgraced ex-politician is likely to be freed from Dumfries Prison on Thursday.
Ms Hilton, who is a Fife councillor for Dunfermline South, won the Dunfermline Holyrood by-election for Labour in October after beating the SNP by almost 3,000 votes.
She said: “It’s disgraceful that this man will be allowed to walk free from prison just halfway through a sentence which was already too short for 23 convictions of domestic abuse.
“If it is indeed the case that his release is imminent then it sends an utterly appalling message and gives scant justice to the brave women who came forward and spoke out about his catalogue of domestic abuse across decades.
“This case should have been heard in a higher court which would have allowed a more appropriate sentence to be given in the first place and we still do not have answers as to why this didn’t happen.”
Walker, elected as the SNP MSP for Dunfermline at the last Holyrood poll, was exposed as a serial abuser of women two years ago.
Allegations were made that he had carried out a string of violent assaults that spanned 30 years, three ex-wives and a former teenage step-daughter.
The SNP suspended Walker and a police investigation led to him being charged with multiple counts of assault.
During his trial last year, Sheriff Kathrine Mackie heard how Walker gave his first wife Maureen Traquair a black eye days before their wedding in 1967.
His second wife, Anne Gruber, told the court Walker had kicked and punched her, as well as knocking her to the ground.
She also alleged in court that he raped her, although this was not one of the charges.
Walker’s third wife, Diana, testified that the politician repeatedly struck her over the course of their unhappy marriage.
He was also accused of smashing a saucepan over the head of his former step-daughter.
The sheriff found Walker guilty and sentenced him to 12 months, which was the maximum penalty available to the court.
Walker was expelled from the SNP and later resigned as an MSP after initially refusing to quit.
Murdo Fraser, the Tory MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, said: “This just exposes the nonsense of automatic early release.
“The public expects someone who is sent to jail for violent offences to serve the time they have been given. People will again be dismayed to learn offenders can walk out halfway through their sentence.”
Graeme Pearson, a former senior police officer and now Scottish Labour’s justice spokesman, said: “Many people will be disappointed Bill Walker has only served six months of a 12-month sentence.
“If anything, this is likely to focus people’s minds that the sentence people get in court is not the time they serve in practice.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Prison Service declined to comment.
According to reports, Mr Walker plans to appeal against his conviction and has a court hearing scheduled for April 17.