Ex-police officer jailed after inflicting 'unimaginable trauma' on women he controlled and abused

A former police officer who subjected three women to a campaign of controlling, violent and sexual abuse has been jailed for almost four years.

Christopher Ferguson, 31, subjected one woman to repeated assaults, told her what she could wear, read her text messages and took away her mobile phone.

Scotland's Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said he stalked the victim through repeated calls and texts, delivered unwanted gifts, monitored her social media, and waited outside a relative's property for her.

Ferguson behaved in an abusive manner by disclosing intimate photographs of a second woman, repeatedly shouting and swearing, and making threats to harm himself.

The woman was subjected to repeated violent assaults, which included Ferguson choking her and injuring her in the process on various occasions.

A third woman was also repeatedly assaulted and fell down a flight of stairs during one attack.

Ferguson also stalked that victim by repeatedly monitoring her movements, turning up at her home, and contacting her about the police probe launched against him.

Ferguson, from Wishaw in North Lanarkshire, targeted his victims over a 14-year period in the Lanarkshire area, including while working at Glasgow's Helen Street police station.

Sheriff Linda Nicolson told Ferguson: "During that time, and as you became more mature, your offending behaviour escalated in terms of the range and gravity of offences.

"That escalation also coincided with you becoming a police officer, a development which led you to become someone trusted to uphold the law and protect others."

Police Scotland said Ferguson was arrested and charged in 2021 following an investigation, during which officers took steps to identify and approach further potential victims.

The force said he was suspended immediately and has since resigned.

Les Brown, procurator fiscal for south Strathclyde, said Ferguson inflicted "unimaginable trauma" on his victims.

He added: "It took courage for them to speak out against a figure of some authority and I would commend their determination to seek justice."

Ferguson was found guilty of nine charges following a trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court in June.

He was convicted of three counts of assault to injury, two charges of threatening or abusive behaviour, two counts of stalking and two charges of voyeurism.

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Ferguson returned to the dock for sentencing on Wednesday and was jailed for three years and nine months.

He was also added to the sex offenders' register for 10 years and has been banned from contacting his victims for a decade.

Following the court case, Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston commended the strength of the women in reporting Ferguson's crimes.

He added: "We understand how difficult it can be to report these kinds of offences, particularly when the perpetrator is a police officer, but I want the public to be reassured that all reports are thoroughly investigated, no matter when the offending took place or who is involved."