GARY FINNIE'S HORRIFIC ABUSE IN DUNDEE: A YEAR OF TERROR AND VIOLENCE
Gary Finnie, aged 38, has been sentenced to prison after a prolonged period of domestic abuse that took place throughout 2021 in Dundee.His actions included physical violence, emotional manipulation, and acts of intimidation against his partner, leaving her in a state of constant fear and distress.
One of the most disturbing incidents involved Finnie cutting off his partner’s long ponytail while she was asleep.
He referred to her as ‘Rapunzel’ during this act, a nickname that underscores the disturbing nature of his control and obsession.
The woman awoke to find that most of her hair had been forcibly removed, a traumatic event that she had to conceal from her family.
To cover up the assault, she fabricated a story about wanting a new hairstyle, fearing that revealing the truth about Finnie’s brutality would escalate her danger.
Finnie’s violence was not limited to hair cutting.
On another occasion, he consumed alcohol to excess, smashed a mirror over his own head, and then turned his rage towards her by slashing her legs with a shard of broken glass.
These violent episodes exemplify the pattern of abuse that characterized their relationship, which was marked by Finnie’s controlling behavior and physical assaults.
The court heard that Finnie systematically isolated his partner from her friends.
He would prevent her from making contact with her social circle by manually deleting phone numbers from her mobile device, effectively cutting her off from her support network.
This form of emotional abuse was part of a broader pattern of controlling conduct that left her feeling trapped and helpless.
One particularly alarming incident occurred just before Halloween, when Finnie, under the influence of alcohol and cocaine, became extremely aggressive.
He began destroying items within their flat, including smashing a mirror over his head.
He then picked up a piece of broken glass and struck his pregnant partner multiple times.
Neighbors, disturbed by the noise and chaos, contacted the police.
When officers arrived, they found the flat in disarray, with smashed glass, overturned furniture, and various items scattered across the floor.
The woman sustained injuries to her wrist and leg but refused to give a statement to the authorities.
Footage from a neighbor’s doorbell camera captured a distressing scene: the victim attempting to leave the flat, only to be forcibly pulled back inside by Finnie.
Despite being taken into police custody, Finnie was released but continued his abusive behavior.
He resumed his pattern of violence and intimidation until he was finally re-arrested at the end of December 2021.
Finnie, who has a history of previous convictions, pleaded guilty to engaging in a course of abusive conduct over the course of the entire year.
During the court proceedings, his solicitor, Gary Foulis, highlighted that Finnie had no prior domestic abuse convictions and was struggling with mental health issues and drug addiction at the time.
Foulis also noted that Finnie had a significant period of sobriety and employment between 2010 and 2017.
In sentencing, Sheriff Paul Brown ordered Finnie to serve 26 months in prison.
Additionally, he imposed a 12-month supervised release order and issued a non-harassment order, prohibiting Finnie from approaching or contacting the woman for the next three years.
This case underscores the severity of domestic abuse in Dundee and the importance of legal measures to protect victims from further harm.
