Thug Jail For String Of Abuse And Assaults Towards Women

A BRUTAL thug who put a string of women through years of abuse and assaults was today jailed for more than four years. Gary Mitchell strangled one of his victims to such an extent that he "endangered her life" - before going on to deliberately cause a car crash with her. The creep repeatedly followed three of his victims around Glenrothes, Fife, and continually contacted them and threatened them with violence. A sheriff today told Mitchell he could well have been prosecuted for attempted murder over the strangling attack. Mitchell, who ran his own plumbing business, started his campaign of torment against his first victim, ex-wife Deborah Kemp, in May 2002. In one vicious assault at an address in Glenrothes Mitchell walked into Miss Kemp's home uninvited and pulled out a telephone cable - telling her she wouldn't be able to contact the police. He then pushed her and pinned her to the floor before straddling her and strangling her. Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court was told Mitchell restricted Miss Kemp's breathing "to her injury and danger of her life". Mitchell also put Miss Kemp through two years of abuse and threats - and in one incident even caused a deliberate car crash with her. The court heard repeatedly contacted her by phone and text as well as following her in his car. On one occasion he drove erratically, causing Miss Kemp to have to brake suddenly. She was unable to avoid a collision, however. Mitchell also repeatedly drove past her home and sat outside it and repeatedly threatened her with violence, shouted at her, swore at her and damaged her property. Mitchell moved on to his next victim, Laura Hutchison, in 2004. The court heard that on one occasion he violently attacked her at an address in Glenrothes's Bighty Avenue - pushing her up against a wall before strangling her and restricting her breathing. Mitchell also put Miss Hutchison through more than seven years of abuse - repeatedly calling and texting her, driving past her home, following her in a car, entering her home uninvited and damaging her proprty. In 2008 Mitchell picked up another victim, Fiona Morrison, who was subjeted to 16 months of abuse at his hands. Again he repeatedly called and text her as well as following her, driving past her home and sending her abusive messages. His final victim, Michelle Beard, was subjected to a violent assault in November 2013. Mitchell attacked her at an address in Bighty Avenue, Glenrothes, by grabbing her mobile phone before hitting her over the head with it to her injury. Mitchell, 45, a prisoner at HMP Perth, pleaded guilty on indictment to three charges of assault and three of breach of the peace. He further admitted charges of assault and two breaches of bail on summary complaint. Stephen Gleeson, defending, said: "There are no offences of violence on his previous record. "He lived with his wife - now the first complainer - for a number of years. "His parents were alcoholics and he witnessed domestic violene as a child. "He's aware a custodial sentence is inevitable." Sheriff James Williamson jailed Mitchell for a total of four years and one month. He said: "You have pled guilty to a catalogue of serious domestic violence over a prolonged period. "Charge three could have been prosecuted as an attempted murder charge - you effectively strangled her until she lost consciousness. "In other circumstances that would be before the Hig h Court."