Serial domestic abuser attacked partner after Ed Sheeran concert

A serial domestic abuser who beat his then-girlfriend after an Ed Sheeran concert has been jailed for 54 months.

James Hamilton, 31, preyed on the woman at various locations in Scotland and on a holiday to the Algarve between August 2020 and January 2023.

Hamilton was also violent to another partner, who has since died, between January 2023 and July 2024.

Both women were choked by Hamilton, who kept tabs and control of their social media.

The second woman was also knocked unconscious by Hamilton, of the city’s Tollcross, who went on to attack her again once she woke up.

Hamilton was found guilty of two charges of domestic abuse against her and the other woman.

Sheriff Jonathan Guy told Hamilton: “Your first victim had to take around five weeks off work and had to leave the job that she loved because of your offending.

“She struggled mentally and physically to recover from what you did to her and continues to suffer from pain in her knee from when you kicked her.

“She says in her victim impact statement that she will be damaged mentally forever and struggles to socialise and form relationships.

“In relation to the second victim, although it was not established that you caused her death, as this was not the focus of the trial, the risk of harm from your abuse, and that she might take her own life as a result, is obvious.

“Standing the verdict of the jury, your position at trial, and now, is essentially one of victim-blaming.

“Most concerningly, you did not demonstrate appropriate insight and remorse for the conduct that you accepted during the trial.

“Although you have never served a prison sentence before, I am satisfied no other method of dealing with you is appropriate due to the seriousness of your offending and having regard to the sentencing purposes of protection of the public, punishment and expressing disapproval of offending behaviour.”

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that during his relationship with the first woman, they went to Hampden Park to watch singer Ed Sheeran.

Hamilton was stated to be “very drunk” at the time.

The woman left Hamilton briefly and returned with a drink of her own, and he was unhappy.

After the concert, Hamilton got angry when the pair returned home, and the woman told him to shut up.

Prosecutor Leo McGinn told jurors in his closing speech: “Hamilton grabbed her, threw her to the floor, hitting her head off the table.”

Hamilton went on to “apply pressure to the chest and neck” and the woman felt like she could not breathe for 20 seconds.

Jurors heard Hamilton then told her: “I’m going to kill you.”

Hamilton briefly stopped the attack and then started again, with the woman unable to breathe for ten seconds, then punched.

Hamilton smashed a window before he left the property.

Jurors were also told that they went to Portugal for a friend’s wedding, where Hamilton attacked her and poured a can of cider over her.

The attack resulted in the woman receiving a wound to her head, and her clothes were thrown from the balcony of their hotel room.

The trial was told that Hamilton was also controlling during the relationship, which included regular questions about who was on her social media and attempted to contact men she was talking to.

Hamilton’s conduct continued with another former partner who has since died. Her evidence was given by a police officer who read out her statement to the jury.

She spoke to having her social media checked by Hamilton, which Mr McGinn told jurors showed a “clear pattern developing with Hamilton in domestic relationships.”

During a trip to Bristol to a concert for DJ Ben Nicky, the woman reported being left on her own by Hamilton.

On her return to their hotel, Hamilton looked through her phone and saw that a man had messaged her.

The woman said: “He dragged me to the ground and choked me. I was trying to scream for help, and shortly after, the police arrived.”

She later stated: “He wanted to kill me that night.”

Other witnesses heard shouting of derogatory names coming from the “Scottish man” in their hotel room.

In a later incident, in July 2024, the pair were sitting on the couch and having a drink.

She said: “He accused me of assaulting him and punched the back of my head and I fell to the ground.”

The woman became unconscious and woke up later that day.

She stated Hamilton pushed her to the ground and stood on her face with his foot.

He went on to put his fingers into the woman’s throat to which she bit him.

In summing up, Mr McGinn told the jury: “He pulled the wool over the eyes of two partners and made them think he was loving and caring but he assaulted them.

“Don’t let him pull the wool over your eyes.”