Podcaster convicted of domestic abuse to be considered for behaviour programme

Podcaster James English is to be considered for a behaviour programme after he was convicted of domestic abuse against his former partner, a court has heard.

The 43-year-old was found guilty of engaging in a course of behaviour which was abusive of the woman between July 2022 and November 2023 in Glasgow and elsewhere.

He was convicted of several allegations on the single charge following a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

These included an incident where he seized her neck and pinned her against a door when she was pregnant, and another where he pressed his thumbs into her eyebrows.

Other incidents included kicking her on the body, causing her to fall off a bed, and striking her on the face.

He was due to be sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Wednesday, but the court heard that a further report is needed so that he can be considered for the Caledonian Men’s Programme, a behaviour programme for men convicted of domestic abuse.

Tommy Ross KC, representing English, said that a justice social work report previously ordered by the sheriff was available, along with a reference by a former partner of English.

Sheriff David Hall told English: “I’ve had sight of the justice social work report, clearly you have co-operated fully in the preparation of the report.

“There is a request for you to be considered for the Caledonian Men’s Programme. They require a period of assessment and I am minded to allow that.

“I will defer sentence for the Caledonian Men’s Programme report to be prepared.”

He said the court will also continue consideration of the issue of a non-harassment order.

Sheriff Hall deferred sentence until December 11 at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

English remains on bail.

The 43-year-old, from Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, appeared in Glow, the Scottish reality TV series, and went on to launch the podcast Anything Goes, which has more than 800,000 subscribers on YouTube.

A description on the YouTube channel says it is “the home of raw, unfiltered, and powerful conversations” with guests including “true crime figures, ex-gangsters and police officers”.