A serial domestic abuser who headbutted a pregnant woman and burned another girlfriend with a cigarette has admitted more than a dozen charges against five women.
Callum Brown, who was originally charged with a total of 35 crimes, was caught after two separate investigations by a specialist domestic violence taskforce.
The 27-year-old, from Inverness, admitted a total of 13 charges committed against five different women between February 2014 and July 2021.
They were six of assault to injury, two of a course of domestic abuse, one of assault to injury and permanent disfigurement, one of stalking, one of threatening behaviour, assault and a breach of a non-harassment order.
Seven years of abuse
Fiscal depute David Barclay told Inverness Sheriff Court about Brown’s catalogue of offending, which took place in properties in Ullapool and Inverness.
The first involved a woman with whom Brown had a relationship between January 2014 and October 2015.
The court heard he pushed her against a doorframe, cutting her eye and leaving her with a permanent scar.
On another occasion, he burned his partner with a cigarette he was holding as he pushed her on the head before punching and kicking her on the body.
A third charge involved Brown becoming angry when his partner wouldn’t visit one of his family members.
“He grabbed her by the neck, lashed out at her, striking her to the face resulting in bruising.” Mr Barclay said.
The court was told she ended the relationship but Brown made repeated attempts to contact her through social media, phone calls making threats and abusive comments and once he turned up and entered her home.
Second victim was pregnant
The second victim was pregnant and he attempted to hit her with a crutch he was using at the time. He twice headbutted her, punched her to the head and body, grabbed her by the neck and threw items at her on repeated occasions in her Ullapool home between July 2017 and April 2019.
He also during the same period he also made threats and abusive comments to her through social media, voicemails and phone calls.
Mr Barclay added: “Despite a non-harassment order being granted on July 4 2019, he repeatedly contacted the woman by mobile phone and social media.”
Sheriff Matheson was then told about three other victims being found in Inverness after one complained to the police about Brown’s behaviour.
He said one woman had to flee her property after Brown grabbed her by the neck with both hands and pushed her on to a couch.
A second woman was not physically hurt by him but he would regularly become angry and verbally abusive and punch holes in the walls.
A third involved a woman he became involved with in the first few months of 2021.
‘There is time for redemption’
Mr Barclay said: “He would shout and swear at her and call her names. Around March 2021 he grabbed her by the neck, compressed his grip, straddled her and punched her face causing bruising.
“On one occasion he had thrown stones at her window and at about 5am on July 11 she was awoken by him within her home unexpectedly.
“She reported it to the police later that morning.”
Defence solicitor Marc Dickson said his client, who also has Ross-shire connections, had mental health issues diagnosed and had been given helpful medication whilst on remand.
“Alcohol and drug abuse also played a role in some of the offences. But he is only 27 and there is time for redemption,” he added.
Sheriff Sara Matheson deferred sentence on Brown until March 11 for a background report and an assessment for participation in a domestic abuser rehabilitation programme. He was again remanded in custody.
