A woman who was subjected to years of coercive control, threats and physical abuse by her partner has told STV News she now regards him as “evil” and “a monster” after seeing him jailed for three years.
Marcus Sinclair from High Valleyfield in Fife was also given a non-harassment order banning him from contact with Angela Selling for 20 years.
Sinclair was convicted of engaging in abusive behaviour towards his former partner which was further aggravated by involving prejudice relating to race, colour, nationality, or ethnic or national origins.
The court heard how Sinclair left his partner unconscious on one occasion, after causing her to strike her head against the floor, spat in her face and seized her by the throat and struck her head against a bannister.
After the relationship ended in 2024, Sinclair stamped on Angela, causing her to suffer a fracture to her foot.
STV NewsFollowing his conviction, Angela said that it was important for him to be “held accountable”.
“I was very pleased with the reaction that he’s being held accountable, finally. It was really important for me to hear him be held accountable because I was believed and my truth was heard.
“I met him in September 2021, and the verbal abuse started on August 22. He accused me of cheating, infidelity.
“And it would start off with text messages and phone calls, saying I wasn’t in the house when I should have been in the house. It just escalated from there.
“It’s not nice being falsely accused of something. As much as I would try to prove I wasn’t doing anything, he wouldn’t listen to me, and it would just escalate from there.
“It wore me down a lot. I felt like I was walking on eggshells every day. Whether it be at home, at work, or going about my day-to-day business. Just awful.
“He’s always right, and he’s never done anything wrong to anybody. And that’s one of the statements he made after he punched me in the side of the head. ‘What you doing down there? You’re being silly. I’ve never hurt you’.
“It’s very important that people know how he is.
“Honestly, he’s a monster. He’s evil. He’s like Jekyll and Hyde. Flip of the switch. You would never know, it could happen within seconds, it could happen in a couple of minutes, it would just flip, and his eyes would go black with rage, and that’s how I knew he was going to be physical.”
Sheriff Robert More stated that Sinclair had committed the abuse while subject to a community payback order for the same offence against a different partner.
He said: “Sadly, it is clear that the psychological damage done to the complainer as a result of your offending has been significant, and will be lasting. That she has been able to return to her job in what is a vitally important sector, is worthy of great commendation.
“The court also acknowledges the support which the complainer has received during her recovery from a number of agencies and, indeed, from her employers.”
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