Serial domestic abuser facing life sentence

A serial domestic abuser may be handed a life sentence after a judge today called for a risk assessment of the danger he poses.

At the High Court in Glasgow judge Lady Rae ordered the assessment on 39-year-old Craig Harkins which could lead to him being given an order for lifelong restriction.

He was found guilty after trial of abusing four partners and raping two of them.

Lady Rae said: “There is a pattern of behaviour here and there is a likelihood that the accused will endanger the public at large if at liberty.”

Defence QC Donald Findlay said: “Rather than calling it a life sentence it is dressed up as a restriction of liberty order.

“Each of the woman involved entered voluntary into a relationship with Mr Harkins and each remained in a relationship after events occurred.”

Harkins was convicted after of 16 charges, including raping two of the women, as well as crimes of assault and threatening behaviour.

One victim kept a heartbreaking diary detailing how she suffered at the hands of Harkins.

The mum was raped as her children screamed nearby.

Sick Harkins drowned her young son’s hamster and the blow-dried it before putting it back in its cage for the boy to find.

He also put three further partners through horrific ordeals. One was raped, left blistered by bleach and had eye-lashes pulled out.

Another was left concussed while pregnant. And Harkins even threatened to video-call footage of him attacking her elderly father.

The final woman was battered amid false claims she had flirted with a hotel waiter.

The crimes occurred between September 2006 and early 2019 at addresses in Glasgow’s Castlemilk as well as Rutherglen and East Kilbride, Lanarkshire.

Harkins was initially described by partners as “fun loving” and “charming” but, he quickly turned into a violent bully, who controlled their lives.

The first victim said she pleading with him, but he only sneered: “Begging is a sign of weakness.”

Harkins, of Rutherglen, went on to indecently assault and choke her when she refused him sex and on March 2011, raped her in the bathroom at his home.

Prosecutor Chris McKenna said: ““She could see her children through the frosted glass shouting on her.”

Harkins denied all the charges against him.

Lady Rae at an earlier hearing told Harkins: “It is difficult to find words to describe what you did. You treated women disgracefully with no regard for their feelings.”

Sentence was deferred until May 21 for the risk assessment to be prepared.

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