A DUNFERMLINE man, who inflicted a catalogue of violence on a string of partners over two decades, has been jailed for two years.

Six former partners of James Callaghan gave evidence at his jury trial at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

They told of ordeals at the hands of the vicious thug, with two of them attacked when they were pregnant.

Following the trial in November, Callaghan was found guilty of seven charges against five different partners.

He told the court all six partners were lying. He also accused his sister of lying after she gave evidence against him. 

Callaghan, 36, of Izatt Avenue, had previously been convicted in 2008 of headbutting one of the women, putting her head down the toilet and flushing it.

The jury found Callaghan guilty of a string of offences in Crossford, Kincardine and Dunfermline between March 1996 and August 2015.
On various occasions between March 19, 1996, and December 31, 1999, at an address in Crossford and elsewhere he shouted, swore and uttered threats of violence towards his partner. On one occasion he repeatedly drove a car at speed towards a wall, prevented her from putting on her seatbelt, repeatedly demanded money from her and committed a breach of the peace.

On various occasions between November 3, 2000, and November 30, 2001, at an address in Kincardine and on a road between Dunfermline and Kincardine he assaulted another woman and repeatedly grabbed her by the body, repeatedly grabbed her by the hair, repeatedly pushed her on the body, pushed her into a bath causing her to strike her head, pushed her to the ground, grabbed her by the body and on one occasion grabbed her by the hair and repeatedly pushed her onto a roadway into the path of moving traffic, all to her injury.

On various occasions between January 1, 2006, and April 30, 2007, at Halbeath Retail Park and an address in Dunfermline, he conducted himself in a disorderly manner, shouted, swore, uttered offensive remarks towards his then partner, uttered threats of violence and committed a breach of the peace.

On various occasions between February 1 and April 30, 2007, at an address in Dunfermline he assaulted his then partner, by repeatedly slapping her on the face, repeatedly grabbing her by the hair, dragging her by the hair, pinning her to the ground and headbutting her on the head, all to her injury.

On various occasions between August 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009, at an address in Dunfermline he assaulted another partner, pushed her on the body causing her to fall to the ground. On one occasion when she was pregnant, he grabbed her by the hair and dragged her to the ground, repeatedly kicked her on the body and struck her on the body with a walking stick, all to her injury.

On various occasions between January 1 and August 4, 2015, at an address in Dunfermline and elsewhere he shouted, swore and uttered offensive remarks towards his then partner, uttered threats of violence and damaged furniture.

On various occasions between January 1 and August 4, 2015, at an address in Dunfermline, he assaulted his partner, whilst she was pregnant, grabbed her by the body, pinned her on to a bed, ripped a necklace from her, pushed her against furniture and on other occasions repeatedly grabbed her hair, pulled her hair, repeatedly pinned her down on a bed, pushed her on the body, covered her mouth to prevent her seeking assistance, pushed her against a wall causing her to strike her head on a picture frame, all to her injury.

Sheriff Charles MacNair jailed Callaghan for two years followed by a 12-month supervised release order.