DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM'S COURAGE AS ABUSIVE FIANCÉ GETS JUST 11 MONTHS IN JAIL
Donna Speirs, 32, a mother of four, was subjected to a violent attack by her abusive fiancé, Myles Leyden.During an early hours assault on June 27, Leyden, who was heavily intoxicated, arrived home believing Donna was unfaithful and became extremely aggressive.
He demanded access to her phone, forcibly took it, snapped it in half, and repeatedly assaulted her, including punching her across the face, kicking her, and holding her down while yelling "tell me the f****** truth." Donna attempted to protect herself and her children, who were in the next room, with her three-year-old baby daughter sleeping in a cot nearby.
Leyden then retrieved a knife, threatening to murder Donna, and threw the knife across the baby's cot, narrowly missing both Donna and the infant.
Despite her fear, Donna managed to dial 999 from her house phone and hid the phone under her pillow.
Her call was overheard by the operator as Leyden continued his attack, raining punches and threatening her life.
Leyden was eventually arrested and jailed for 11 months for the assault.
He was also issued a three-year non-harassment order to stay away from Donna.
The Scottish sheriff commented on the case, expressing regret that Leyden was sentenced to only 11 months due to a prosecutorial mistake, which limited the potential sentence because the case was prosecuted as a summary rather than an indictment.
Sheriff Hamilton noted, "This is an appalling assault -- an appalling catalogue of behaviour.
You can consider yourself fortunate that this matter was prosecuted on a summary complaint rather than on indictment.
If this case had been indicted, given your history—including assault and robbery—you would be looking at a sentence of years and not months." Donna expressed her outrage at Leyden's sentence, calling it a 'joke' and criticizing the legal system for its leniency.
She emphasized her desire to warn other women about Leyden's dangerous nature and stated she hopes he rots in hell, reflecting her determination to rebuild her life for her children after experiencing unremitting violence and betrayal.
