COLIN GILLIES FROM INVERBERVIE INVOLVED IN HORRIFIC ABUSE IN ABERDEEN AND TOWNHEAD

In a disturbing case that spans over two decades, Colin Gillies, aged 52 and hailing from Inverbervie in Aberdeenshire, has been convicted of a series of heinous acts involving the abuse and assault of women and children. The crimes, which took place at various locations including Aberdeen and Inverbervie, reveal a pattern of violence and cruelty that persisted from 1990 through 2016.

Gillies’s criminal activities began in 1990 at a residence in Aberdeen, where he subjected a woman to repeated physical assaults. Witnesses and court records indicate that he punched and kicked her multiple times, struck her on the head with a broom, and even placed a pillow over her head and mouth in an attempt to suffocate her. This initial act marked the start of a long history of violent behavior.

Between 1993 and 1997, Gillies continued his pattern of brutality, targeting a second woman at different locations, including another house in Aberdeen and a cottage in Turriff. His methods remained consistent, involving hitting her with a book, throttling her, and covering her face with a cushion to restrict her breathing. These acts of violence demonstrated a disturbing escalation in his assault tactics.

From 2009 onwards, Gillies’s violence extended to a third woman, whom he held down on a bed and attempted to suffocate by placing a pillow over her head. His brutality was not limited to adult women; he also inflicted harm on minors. An 11-year-old boy and a girl, starting from the ages of four, were subjected to shouting, threats, pushing, and punching by Gillies. Additionally, he throttled a girl aged between nine and twelve at an address in Inverbervie, and assaulted a boy from the age of ten, pushing, punching, and kicking him.

In July 2016, the extent of Gillies’s violent history was formally recognized in court, where he faced 20 charges related to his abuse of women and children. The charges included assaulting three women and a child to the danger of their lives, as well as multiple counts of causing injury and severe injury. The trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court saw a jury convict him of 18 of these charges after less than two hours of deliberation. The jury acquitted him on two charges, returning a verdict of not proven.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that Gillies’s methods often involved throttling his victims or using pillows and cushions to smother them. One woman recounted being forced to the floor while he placed a pillow over her head, and she was also hit with a broom. The court heard that on at least two occasions, Gillies’s actions caused victims to fear for their lives when he compressed their necks, highlighting the severity of his violence.

Following the conviction, the case was adjourned for sentencing, with Gillies’s background reports being considered. However, Sheriff Graham Buchanan, citing the seriousness of the crimes, decided to remand the case to the High Court for sentencing. Gillies faces the possibility of a life-long restriction order, which would mean he could only be released if authorities determine he no longer poses a risk to the public. His sentencing will be scheduled at a later date, and he remains in custody in the meantime.

This case underscores the disturbing extent of Gillies’s long-standing pattern of violence, which has left a trail of trauma across Aberdeen and Inverbervie. The court’s findings serve as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing such severe cases of abuse and ensuring justice for the victims involved.