Dundee man jailed for string of abuse against former partners

A tree surgeon who preyed on a string of terrified ex-lovers during a lengthy campaign of abuse has been jailed for almost 14 years.

Mark McLeod was locked up as a judge told him he had a “very poor attitude to women”.

The 39 year-old today appeared at the High Court in Glasgow.

McLeod was earlier convicted at a trial in Edinburgh of 14 charges including repeated rapes and assault.

Four women suffered at his violent hands between 1997 and 2013 in Dundee and the Angus area.

He was also convicted of animal cruelty after taking out his temper on pet dogs.

Lord Summers jailed for him for a total of 13 years and nine months.

McLeod, also of Dundee, will be supervised for a further four years on his release.

The judge said the thug had a lengthy criminal past including convictions for violence.

He told him: “It is clear you have very little respect for the law.”

Lord Summers added McLeod's attitude to women meant the court was “not inclined to adopt a benevolent or forgiving view”.

McLeod was further told that a pre-sentencing report considered him a “high risk”.

He was also placed on the sex offenders list.