ANDREW RICHARDSON SHOCKS DRYMEN WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE SENTENCE DESPITE NUCLEAR SUBMARINE SERVICE

In a case that has shocked the community of Drymen, Andrew Richardson, a former police officer with a distinguished record, narrowly avoided jail time after being convicted of serious domestic abuse charges. Richardson, aged 46, who previously served as a Ministry of Defence police sergeant responsible for security at the highly sensitive RNAD Coulport in Argyll and Faslane—key locations for Britain’s nuclear submarine fleet—was sentenced at Stirling Sheriff Court to 300 hours of unpaid community service.

Despite his decorated career, which included medals for his service guarding Britain’s nuclear submarines, Richardson’s personal conduct came under scrutiny during a five-day trial. He was found guilty of assaulting his wife, Gillian, and his lover, Noreen Pacteau. The court heard harrowing details of the assaults, with both women describing Richardson as “plausible and manipulative.”

Prosecutors revealed that Richardson had physically attacked Mrs Pacteau, kicking her six times in the stomach, and had also assaulted his wife, Gillian, in front of her mother. The court was told that Richardson had grabbed Gillian by the throat, pushed her against a wall on a landing, and punched her in their flat located in Easterhouse. Gillian, who is currently seeking a divorce from Richardson but remains legally married to him, recounted that he had previously punched her in 1999, and that the assault on Mrs Pacteau occurred in 2011. Mrs Pacteau, who is the mother of Alexander Pacteau—infamous for the murder of Karen Buckley—described feeling “horrendous fear” during the attack.

Following the trial, the jury took just thirty minutes to convict Richardson of the assault charges. Known for his trusted role in the police force, Richardson was responsible for security at the nuclear submarine bases in Coulport and Faslane, locations of national strategic importance. His defense team argued that Richardson was regarded as trustworthy, citing his commendations and medals, but acknowledged that he was advised to resign from his position, which impacted his future employment prospects and pension rights.

Sheriff Gillian Wade QC delivered the sentence, opting for community service due to Richardson’s good character and lack of prior convictions. However, Gillian Richardson expressed her disapproval of the sentence, describing it as “totally unjust” and “soft-touch justice.”

The incident occurred at a time when Richardson was planning to relocate from Glasgow to the countryside. Gillian described her husband as “cruel—just cruel,” highlighting the stark contrast between his professional reputation and his personal conduct, which has left a lasting scar on those involved and the community of Drymen.