A DUNFERMLINE man who carried out violence and sexual assaults against women for 14 years has been sent to prison.

Richard Scott, 41, of Pittencrieff Street, had pleaded guilty to seven charges against five different women.

He bullied, beat up, stalked and sexually assaulted women during relationships with the abuse continuing from 2002 until last year.

Appearing for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, Scott was jailed for two years and eight months.

Police began to investigate Scott in 2016, following a number of domestic incidents with his then partner.

Officers worked closely with partner organisations to gather evidence and supported a number of his ex-girlfriends who came forward.

Detective Inspector James Leeson, of Fife Division's Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “Scott would intimidate and control his victims whilst in a relationship as well as physically assaulting them.

“Following the end of their relationship Scott would stalk the women, which is an exceptionally deceptive and debilitating crime that caused an immense amount of stress to the women.

“Stalking is often a hidden crime that victims don’t always recognise and seemingly innocent gestures can of perpetrators can mask much more sinister and terrifying behaviour.

“I would like to commend the bravery of these women whose courage meant we could present a case to the Crown resulting in a successful prosecution, and I hope that today’s sentencing gives them some comfort."

Scott had admitted a catalogue of domestic abuse at an earlier court hearing.

On an occasion in March 2002, at Clunie Road, Dunfermline, he assaulted a woman by seizing her by the throat, compressing her throat, restricting her breathing and pinning her against a door.

On various occasions between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2006 at Elizabeth Street and Specsavers Opticians, High Street, both Dunfermline, he conducted himself in a disorderly manner by attending uninvited at a woman’s home, he shouted and struck windows and doors, loitered outside her home and repeatedly waited outside her place of work, placing her in a state of fear and alarm and committed a breach of the peace.

On various occasions between December 1, 2010 and December 31, 2011 at an address in Trondheim Parkway he sexually assaulted a woman.

On various occasions between December 1, 2011 and December 31, 2014 at addresses in McClelland Crescent and Trondheim Parkway, Dunfermline, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by repeatedly contacting a woman by email and text messages despite being asked not to do so, threatened to show private footage and images of her to others and repeatedly attended at her home uninvited.

On various occasions between April 9, 2013 and March 31, 2016 at addresses in Airdrie and Townhill Road, Dunfermline, he assaulted a woman by striking her on the head with a helmet, attempted to push her down a flight of stairs, seized her, threw her to the ground and dragged her by the arms, all to her injury.

On various occasions between February 1 and October 31, 2015 at Beath View, Dunfermline, he sexually assaulted a woman.

On various occasions between October 1, 2015 and June 21, 2016 at Beath View and elsewhere he engaged in a course of conduct which caused a woman fear and alarm by repeatedly attending at her home address uninvited, left presents for her, climbed over the fence at her home, poured liquid over a trampoline and caused damage to her car.

Scott had previously been jailed for seven months for another offence of domestic abuse.

Sheriff Craig McSherry told him: “You seem to have an attitude that simply discounts the wishes of these women.”

He jailed Scott for 32 months. He was previously placed on the sex offenders register.

Detective Inspector Leeson said: "I would encourage any victims of abuse who have not yet reported the matter to police to contact us on 101 or make an anonymous call to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."