Thug tried to strangle ex-girlfriend hours after release from court for domestic abuse case

A DAD tried to strangle his ex-girlfriend hours after being granted bail in a terrifying campaign of domestic abuse.

Ben Polland first assaulted his former partner, who the Sunday Mail have chosen not to name, in February after turning up at the new mum’s Ayrshire home and threatening to kill her.

In March, Polland, the step-son of William Kelly. who killed his own mum Cathy by setting her on fire, appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court and admitted breaching an order not to contact his ex.

However, hours after being granted bail he turned up at the 22-year-old’s home again and assaulted her.

He repeatedly punched the mum, who had given birth only weeks before, on the head and body before putting his hands around her neck and restricting her breathing.

Dad-of-one Polland, 19, from Galston, Ayrshire, appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court in May where he admitted assaulting his ex and threatening to kill her in February.

He was handed a Community Payback Order, ordered to undertake alcohol treatment and told to participate in the Caledonian Programme aimed at tackling domestic abuse earlier this month.

He was also placed on the Restriction of Liberty Order for six months.

Last night, a source close to the family, who did not want to be identified, hit out at Polland’s sentence.

He said: “A slap on the wrists for treating someone that way is no deterrent at all. Instead, Polland remains emboldened, he gets away with it every time.

“How many chances do domestic abusers need to be given?

“Ben grew up with Kelly as a stepdad and knowing the violence Kelly inflicted on his mum Cathy, it’s worrying that such a young offender is allowed to think violence against women is okay.”

Polland is due to be sentenced in September.

However, due to controversial new sentencing guidelines, which aim to make rehabilitation rather than punishment a primary consideration for under 25s, he could again be spared jail.

Scottish Conservative deputy justice spokesperson Sharon Dowey MSP said: “This chilling case lays bare the reality of the SNP’s
soft-touch justice system, which is prioritising criminals over victims.

“This violent offender should never have been able to evade justice so easily and as a result pose a further threat to his victim and her family. The SNP’s weak justice system needs drastic rethinking. It must put the protection of victims at the forefront of decision-making rather than handing dangerous and violent criminals inadequate punishments.”

Former offshore worker William Kelly, now 49, had shouted “die, die” as Cathy Kelly was engulfed in flames.

Minutes earlier he had assaulted the 71-year-old, punching and kicking her and leaving her lying on the floor of her home in Kilmarnock.

In 2018, a jury at the High Court in Glasgow took just 90 minutes to unanimously convict Kelly for the killing.

He was jailed for a minimum of 23 years.

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