Probe into domestic abuser whose catalogue of violence included offences in Ullapool led to further victims, Inverness Sheriff Court hears
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A domestic abuse task force investigated a 27-year-old man for violence against two women, one of them pregnant, and it led to the discovery of more victims.
Callum Brown from Inverness, but who also has Ross-shire connections, appeared before Sheriff Sara Matheson at Inverness Sheriff Court.
He admitted a total of 13 charges across two separate investigations into offences committed against five different women between February 17, 2014 and July, 2021.
They were six of assault to injury, two of a course of domestic abuse, one of assault to injury and permanent disfigurement, one of stalking, one of threatening behaviour, assault and a breach of a non-harassment order.
Brown, described as an Inverness prisoner was originally charged with a total of 35 crimes.
Sentence was deferred until March 11 for a background report and an assessment for participation in a domestic abuser rehabilitation programme. He was again remanded in custody.
Fiscal depute David Barclay told the court about Brown's catalogue of offending which took place in properties in Ullapool and Inverness.
The first involved a woman with whom Brown had a relationship between January, 20214 and October, 2015.
The court heard he pushed her against a doorframe, cutting her eye and leaving her with a permanent scar. On another occasion, he burned his partner with a cigarette he was holding as he pushed her on the head before punching and kicking her on the body.
A third charge involved Brown becoming angry when his partner wouldn't visit one of his family members. "He grabbed her by the neck, lashed out at her, striking her to the face resulting in bruising," Mr Barclay said.
The court was told she ended the relationship but Brown made repeated attempts to contact her through social media, phone calls making threats and abusive comments and once he turned up and entered her home.
The second victim was pregnant and he attempted to hit her with a crutch he was using at the time; twice butted her on the head and punched her to the head and body and grabbed her by the neck and throw items at her on repeated occasions in her Ullapool home between July, 2017 and April, 2019. He also during the same period regularly shout and swear at her and make threats and abusive comments through social media, voicemails and phone calls.
Mr Barclay added: "Despite a non-harassment order being granted on July 4, 2019, he repeatedly contacted the woman by mobile phone and social media."
Sheriff Matheson was then told about three other victims being found in Inverness after one complained to the police about Brown's behaviour.
He grabbed one woman by the neck with both hands and pushed her back on to a couch. Mr Barclay said she ran to a neighbour's house for help.
A second woman was not physically hurt by him but he would regularly become angry, be verbally abusive and punch holes in the walls.
A third involved a former near neighbour of Brown's be became involved with in the first few months of 2021.
Mr Barclay continued: "He would shout and swear at her and call her names. Around March, 2021, he grabbed her by the neck, compressed his grip, straddled her and punched her face causing bruising.
"On one occasion he had thrown stones at her window and at about 5am on July 11, she was awoken by him within her home unexpectedly. She reported it to the police later that morning."
Defence solicitor Marc Dickson said his client had mental health issues diagnosed and had been given helpful medication whilst on remand.
"Alcohol and drug abuse also played a role in some of the offences. But he is only 27 and there is time for redemption."
