A SERIAL abuser who attacked women in West Fife and across Scotland over a 10-year period has been jailed for eight years.

Alan Radcliffe (29) was convicted of a string of charges including assault, rape and making threats against women following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh last month.

He was arrested by officers from Police Scotland’s domestic abuse task force following an eight-month investigation where officers were able to build up a picture of his crimes over a long period, securing the evidence that led to his conviction.

Radcliffe targeted women across the country, with one of his many victims coming from Dunfermline.

Following his conviction, Lord Kinclaven told him, “You have been found guilty by the verdict of the jury of a number of serious offences against females.

“Clearly there is no alternative to a significant custodial sentence. No other method of dealing with you is appropriate.” The judge said Radcliffe had “a significant record” although only one previous conviction was for assault, when he was jailed at Cambridge Crown Court despite being acquitted on three rape charges.

During his trial, a female witness told the court that within weeks of meeting Radcliffe she noticed angry outbursts from him. She said it would be “just an angry expression on his face and white knuckles”.

She said he pushed her and she fell into a wardrobe during one incident in 2004 at a house in Kincardine.

During a subsequent assault she was visiting her bedridden grandmother in Livingston, in West Lothian, when he wanted money.

She ended up on a couch and he was leaning on her, punching her in the ribs.

“I don’t know why he stopped. He got up and left and I lay there and cried,” she said.

Chief Superintendent John Thomson welcomed Radcliffe’s sentencing and commented that “justice had been served”.

He said, “Radcliffe is a dangerous and manipulative man who targeted women, lying to them in order to gain their trust.

“Once the relationship was established he would become violent and aggressive towards them, women he supposedly loved. “Radcliffe is now behind bars and justice has been served. There is no doubt that women were frightened of him but they spoke to police, detailing some of the horrors they suffered at his hands. “I would like to thank these women for their bravery in speaking out and would like to reiterate to anyone who is suffering domestic abuse not to suffer in silence and report it.”