DUNDEE ABUSER WHO FLED TO MALAYSIA FINALLY BEHIND BARS AFTER DECADE ABROAD
A domestic abuser known for controlling behavior escaped to Malaysia to avoid accountability for many years of violence directed at his wives and children in Dundee and Angus.Douglas Guild, aged 64, has now been remanded into custody after a jury at Dundee Sheriff Court found him guilty of multiple charges of assault and stalking spanning from 1979 to 1999.
During the trial, it was revealed that two of his wives endured frequent violence, while his daughters—who are now adults—suffered severe abuse inflicted by him.
The court heard that a missing Robbie Williams CD was central to an incident involving one of his children.
Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith remarked: “Some members of (the jury) may know that the debut album was named ‘Life thru a Lens’.
One of the most notable singles from that album was ‘Angels’.
As I understand, it was your CD, so you might be familiar with the lyrics.” He continued: “It goes like this: ‘And through it all, she offers me protection, a lot of love and affection.’ Well, with respect, you failed to provide protection, love, or affection to your children.
It is a testament (to their mother) that she managed to remove you from their lives and ensure they were raised well, despite the trauma caused by your violent behavior during their childhood, which still haunts them.” Guild was convicted of shouting, swearing, and repeatedly punching and slapping his first wife.
He also chased her down stairs, ran at her, and pushed her against a wall while she was pregnant.
On one occasion, he pulled her hair, causing her to fall onto a bed, then climbed on top of her and pinned her down, resulting in injury.
These assaults occurred between 1979 and 1999 at various locations in Dundee, Carnoustie, Muirhead, and outside a barn in Birkhill.
His first wife described the abuse as a “way of life,” recounting how her daily existence was shaped by his violence.
Both of his daughters, beginning at the ages of three, were physically assaulted by him early in their lives.
Between 1989 and 1999, he pushed his eldest against a radiator, grabbed her by the neck, took her upstairs, pushed her onto a bed, and repeatedly struck her.
His second daughter was also hurt, being slapped repeatedly, pinned against a wall, and thrown into a vehicle during incidents in Dundee and Carnoustie between 1995 and 2000.
A different wife was assaulted when Guild pinned her to a wall and grabbed her throat.
He also forced her into a bedroom, lunged at her, hit her on the head with a handbag, and pushed her onto a sofa, causing injury.
These assaults happened from 2007 to 2012 across addresses in Broughty Ferry, Montrose, and Aberdeen.
She testified that she felt “paralysed with fear” during these attacks.
Guild maintained extensive control over her finances, sent her numerous texts and emails, and claimed he was spying on her through their living room window after they separated.
He was convicted of stalking her during the period from 2012 to 2014.
Court documents included emails from Guild, in which he apologized for a “barbaric” attack on her in Malaysia.
He was employed in Kuala Lumpur as an operations manager for energy equipment company NOV.
While he acknowledged some involvement in this assault, he strongly denied the other allegations and the manner in which they were described.
All victims reported that his violence worsened when he consumed alcohol.
They also described him shouting so close that they were hit with spit from his mouth.
In 2015, Guild first appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court regarding these charges but went on a flight to Malaysia the following day, remaining abroad until July of the previous year.
The sheriff pointed out that Guild left the country immediately after court appearances, had been out of the UK for over nine years, and commented: “Justice delayed is justice denied.
You have effectively done everything possible to evade justice for your children.” Guild, of Birkhill, was remanded into custody pending sentencing scheduled for June.
