Ex-police sergeant dodges jail despite decades of domestic abuse

EX-POLICE SERGEANT DODGES JAIL DESPITE DECADES OF DOMESTIC ABUSE

A former police sergeant, Iain Pittams, who was exposed as a multiple wife beater, has notably avoided a jail sentence despite a long history of controlling, bullying, and harassing women over several decades.

He inflicted physical and emotional abuse on two wives and a long-term partner, even after joining the police force.

Pittams, aged 49, carried out a range of assaults, including an incident on holiday where he could not find a pair of socks and responded by throwing a cutlery drawer at another woman because it was dirty.

Yesterday, he received a sentence of two years’ supervision, 210 hours of unpaid work, and was ordered to attend a course for domestic abusers.

Despite his guilty plea to three charges of assault and one of threatening or abusive behavior dating from August 1991 to the previous June, he avoided disciplinary action by retiring from the police force weeks before pleading guilty.

The court, represented by sheriff Michael Hanlon, was told of Pittams' history of emotional issues and mental health problems dating from his time in the Navy, which his lawyer suggested may have influenced his behavior.

During court proceedings at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court, Pittams was condemned as having committed 'serious and cowardly' offences.

Furthermore, he was served with a three-year non-harassment order related to his first wife, Ann, emphasizing the ongoing issues stemming from his abusive conduct.