A controlling boyfriend examined his partner’s body for “evidence of infidelity” and attacked her with a saw during a 10-month campaign of psychological and physical cruelty.
Andrew Crawford ordered his girlfriend to strip so he could inspect her and told her he had put a tracking device on her car.
The 43-year-old from Perth denied engaging in an abusive course of conduct when he went on trial at the city’s sheriff court.
But jurors found him guilty after two days of evidence.
Sheriff Robert More sentenced him to 18 months in prison.
Looked for evidence of cheating
The court heard Crawford’s abusive campaign began around April 2019 and continued to mid-January the following year.
He accused his partner of being unfaithful and persistently contacted her by phone and text message.
Crawford also demanded a video call so he could establish her whereabouts.
On one occasion, he took and hid his girlfriend’s mobile phone and refused to return it to her.
Another time, he refused to let her leave his flat in Prince’s Street.
The court heard Crawford examined his girlfriend’s car for proof she might be cheating.
On another occasion, he ordered her to remove her clothes to examine her for evidence of infidelity.
Domestic violence
The trial also heard of harrowing moments of violence and erratic behaviour.
Crawford, listed as a prisoner at HMP Perth, acted aggressively towards his girlfriend, threw household items around while shouting and swearing at her.
He threatened her with violence and said he would to damage her property.
Crawford pushed his partner, causing her to fall into furniture.
Another time, he seized her by the head and bit her face.
The court also heard he attacked her with a saw, damaging her clothing.
On one occasion, he grabbed the steering wheel while she was driving.
According to court papers, the abuse happened at Crawford’s flat in Perth, and also at the Alexander Thomson Hotel, in Glasgow, as well as on a train journey between the two cities.
Breached court orders
Crawford admitted breaching a court bail order by contacting another woman at the Travelodge near Perth’s Broxden junction on February 13, last year.
He also pled guilty to twice being out of his flat without a reasonable excuse during a court-imposed curfew.
Crawford previously faced allegations that he had pretended to be seriously ill and told his partner she was at risk of contracting HIV from him.
These accusations, and other claims, were dropped from the charge.
