A woman ended her relationship with her violent boyfriend, who subjected her to severe abuse, including throwing lit cigarettes at her while she was pregnant. The abuser, Darren Duthie, engaged in controlling and violent behavior, such as pouring petrol through her letterbox and sending threatening messages, even mentioning mutilation in front of her young daughter.

The 30-year-old continued to torment her by following her from Edinburgh to Manchester, nearly setting fire to her home and later breaking in to attack her with a knife. In a disturbing turn of events, he vandalized her mother’s grave and assaulted her with a hammer. Despite being behind bars for domestic abuse, he managed to send threatening messages to her from prison, prompting the Edinburgh Police to issue a threat-to-life warning when his release neared.

Fearing for her safety, the woman fled the country with her children to Manchester, carrying only essentials. Despite her efforts to conceal her location, Duthie persistently attempted to contact her through various means, including fake social media accounts and disturbing messages.

The victim detailed years of abuse, physical harm, and threats she endured at the hands of her ex-partner, who repeatedly targeted her home and subjected her to relentless violence. She expressed concerns for her children’s safety and emphasized the failure of the justice system to protect them.

In court, Duthie denied the charges, but the judge acknowledged the persistent and serious nature of his offenses, describing him as an abuser who poses a significant risk to the public. Ultimately, he was sentenced to 10 years, with six years of imprisonment and a four-year extended license, highlighting the severity of his actions and the need to protect the victim and her children from further harm.