DUNBLANE MAN CRAIG BARCLAY LEITCH FOUND GUILTY OF DOMESTIC ABUSE IN SCOTLAND

On the 4th of June, 2025, Craig Barclay Leitch, a resident of Dunblane, was officially convicted of two serious criminal offences related to domestic abuse. The charges, both classified as domestically aggravated, underscore the severity and brutality of his conduct towards his former partner. These convictions come after a prolonged period during which the victim endured relentless emotional, psychological, financial, and physical abuse, leaving her deeply traumatized and emotionally scarred.

The first conviction pertains to threatening and abusive behaviour, which is in violation of Section 38(1) of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010. This particular offence was further classified as aggravated under Section 1 of the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016 because it occurred within the context of a domestic relationship, intensifying the seriousness of the crime. The second conviction involved assault causing injury, which was similarly deemed domestically aggravated under the same legislation. Both charges stem from a disturbing pattern of coercive and violent actions that ultimately culminated in a terrifying physical assault.

The victim, whose identity remains protected, provided a detailed written account of her harrowing experience. She described how Leitch exerted complete control over her life, isolating her from her family and friends, criticizing her interactions with others, and systematically undermining her confidence. She recounted becoming hyper-vigilant about her physical movements, even during rest, out of fear that any slight adjustment might provoke Leitch’s anger. “If I adjusted my body while sleeping or shifted in any way beside him, he would shout at me,” she wrote. “This constant monitoring left me anxious—never able to relax, even in my own sleep.”

Leitch’s issues with alcohol further contributed to his unpredictable and volatile behaviour. Additionally, he exploited the victim financially by borrowing large sums of money that he never repaid, which only heightened her feelings of instability and stress. The situation reached a critical and dangerous point when Leitch violently assaulted her. During this incident, he reportedly pinned her down, covered her mouth to prevent her from calling for help, and used her own T-shirt to strangle her until she lost consciousness. Following this, he fought her on the floor and then threw her out of his home, refusing to return her belongings. Fortunately, the victim was able to contact the police from outside the residence.

In her statement, she described Leitch’s behaviour as coercive, violent, and controlling. “Craig’s behaviour was coercive, violent, and controlling,” she stated. “I now recognise that what I experienced was not just unhealthy—it was abusive.”

The sentencing for Craig Leitch has been postponed until the 23rd of June, 2025. While the victim is not mandated to attend the sentencing hearing, she has the option to be present in the public gallery. The Sheriff presiding over the case will review all evidence presented during the trial before issuing a final sentence.

Although victim impact statements are not typically standard procedure in Summary Sheriff Court cases, the Procurator Fiscal has confirmed that a written letter detailing the ongoing effects of the abuse will be submitted to inform the court’s decision. This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating toll domestic abuse can take and underscores the importance of robust legal protections for survivors across Scotland.