ROBERT MURRAY FROM ARBROATH SENTENCED FOR VIOLENT ABUSE AND CHOKING HIS GIRLFRIEND IN DUNDEE AND FORFAR

A man named Robert Murray, whose violent and abusive actions took place across several locations including Arbroath, Forfar, and Dundee, has been sentenced to three years in prison for his brutal treatment of his 15-year-old girlfriend. The court heard that Murray, who was 20 years old at the time, began a relationship with the young girl after meeting her at a social gathering. Within just a few weeks of their acquaintance, he started subjecting her to physical assaults, a pattern of violence that persisted for nearly two and a half years.

Throughout their tumultuous relationship, police were frequently called to intervene due to Murray’s aggressive behavior. Despite this, he was released on bail on eight separate occasions, allowing him to continue his abusive conduct. The young girl was often coerced into concealing the true nature of the violence, telling others she had been involved in a fight with someone else to prevent Murray from becoming more enraged. This deception was a means of self-preservation, as she feared further harm.

The disturbing details of the abuse only came to light when police, investigating an unrelated matter involving Murray, contacted the girl. During their interview, she disclosed the extent of the violence she had endured at his hands. The court was told that Murray’s actions were not only physically violent but also controlling and manipulative, with the sheriff describing his behavior as “violent, controlling and abusive towards a young woman.”

Testimony from the prosecution revealed that Murray’s temper would flare easily, often accusing his girlfriend of infidelity or betrayal, which would trigger violent outbursts. Nicola Gillespie, the fiscal depute, explained that after these episodes, Murray would sometimes cry and apologize, only to become angry again shortly afterward. The violence was relentless, with the girl choosing to cease arguing with him because it often resulted in further assaults.

One particularly harrowing incident involved Murray smashing the girl’s iPhone before grabbing her by the hair and repeatedly slapping and punching her in the head. The violence escalated when he forced her head against a wall and continued his assault in front of her distressed sister. When her sister intervened, Murray directed his anger at her, hurling verbal abuse. The situation worsened when the girl tried to intervene, standing between her sister and Murray, who then forcefully threw her to the ground, rendering her unconscious.

Murray pleaded guilty to multiple counts of assault spanning from January 2014 to June 2016, with incidents occurring at various addresses in Arbroath, Forfar, and Dundee. His defense solicitor, Grant Bruce, requested that the court consider a community-based sentence instead of imprisonment. However, Sheriff Alastair Carmichael was firm in his decision, emphasizing the severity of the case and Murray’s criminal history, which includes 18 previous convictions, some related to sexual assault and dishonesty.

The sheriff pointed out that Murray had been placed on community payback orders four times but continued to offend. He highlighted that the assaults happened frequently, approximately two to three times weekly, with one witness observing Murray slap his girlfriend’s head eight or nine times. The sheriff also noted the terrifying incident where Murray choked her to the point she believed he was going to kill her. As a result, Murray was sentenced to three years in prison, with an additional 12-month supervision order upon release, reflecting the court’s recognition of the seriousness of his violent and controlling behavior.