DAVID BURNETT SENTENCED IN PETERHEAD FOR SEXUAL ABUSE AND ONLINE MISOGYNY

A man from the north-east of Scotland has been sentenced to prison after admitting to a prolonged and disturbing campaign of sexualized abuse against two women. David Burnett, who hails from Boddam near Peterhead, was found guilty of multiple serious offences that included not only physical and emotional abuse but also heinous online misconduct.

According to court reports, Burnett engaged in a sustained pattern of coercive and abusive behavior. He repeatedly sought explicit photographs from one of his victims and attempted to force himself upon her after she refused his advances. The police investigation uncovered that Burnett’s mobile device contained intimate images of the women involved, alongside a staggering 573 pages of messages exchanged within group chats involving approximately 30 individuals. Many of these messages were laced with misogynistic language, explicitly encouraging violence and rape, with phrases such as “rape her, even if she says no.”

In a particularly disturbing incident, Burnett demanded that another woman cut herself on camera. During this act, he watched via FaceTime and reportedly smirked at her pain, demonstrating a callous disregard for her suffering. The court also heard that Burnett threatened to share intimate photographs of her with her husband, which prompted her to contact the police after her husband received a screenshot of a message from Burnett. This act of intimidation and coercion added to the severity of his crimes.

Further details revealed that Burnett instructed a woman to inflict self-harm and watched her do so through a video call, smirking at her distress. His actions extended into threats of further humiliation, as he threatened to expose her private images to her spouse. These threats and acts of manipulation underscored the malicious intent behind his conduct.

During the court proceedings, Burnett’s legal representative claimed that he was in denial about his actions and had not committed any offences since the incidents in question. However, Sheriff Craig Findlater emphasized the gravity and ongoing nature of Burnett’s misconduct. The court found that his actions constituted serious offences, including sexual assault, coercive control, and encouraging violence.

As a result, Burnett was sentenced to 27 months in prison. The judge also ordered him to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years and prohibited him from contacting either of the women involved for fifteen years. Throughout the hearing, Burnett remained largely silent, only managing to say “I’m sorry” to a woman in the courtroom gallery as he was led away in custody, reflecting the seriousness with which the court viewed his crimes.