Police Scotland officer abused three former partners over 14 years

A former police officer who subjected three former partners to violent and sexual abuse over a period of 14 years has been jailed.

Christopher Ferguson was found guilty of nine charges – including two counts of voyeurism – following a trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

The 31-year-old from Wishaw targeted his victims in the Lanarkshire area, including while at Glasgow’s Helen Street police station.

Ferguson subjected one woman to repeated assaults as well as telling her what she could wear, reading her text messages and taking away her mobile phone.

He was found guilty of stalking the same woman through repeated calls and texts, delivering unwanted gifts, monitoring her social media and waiting outside a relative’s property for her.

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

Ferguson subjected her to repeated violent assaults including choking her on various occasions.

A third woman was also repeatedly attacked by Ferguson, causing her to fall down a flight of stairs to her injury on one occasion.

He stalked the same woman by repeatedly monitoring her movements, turning up at her home and contacting her about an ongoing police investigation against him.

Ferguson was arrested and charged in 2021 following an investigation by Police Scotland.

He was suspended immediately and has since resigned.

The former police officer was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

His name has been added to the sex offenders register for ten years.

Non-harassment orders, preventing Ferguson from contacting or attempting to contact his victims, were also granted for a ten-year period.

Les Brown, Procurator Fiscal for South Strathclyde, said: “Christopher Ferguson is a habitual domestic abuser who inflicted unimaginable trauma on his victims.

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

“The Crown is committed to the effective and fair prosecution of domestic and sexual crime, no matter who the offender is.

“I would urge anyone who has been the victim of similar offences to come forward.

“You will be listened to and supported as we use all the tools available to us to seek justice.”

Assistant chief constable Stuart Houston said: “My thoughts remain with those who survived the appalling abuse by Christopher Ferguson and I commend their strength in reporting these crimes and bringing him to justice.

“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.

“It is right that policing is held to high standards at all times and we will always support officers and staff acting with our values and standards at heart. The onus is on policing to build and maintain public confidence and consent which is critical in our ability to keep our communities and citizens safe.

“Criminality or misconduct by officers or staff damages public confidence and there is no place in policing for those who do not uphold our values.”