Dangerous predator jailed for 14 years for "terrible domestic abuse"

A DANGEROUS predator who carried out serious violent and sexual crimes during years of "terrible domestic abuse" has been jailed for 14 years.

Michael George Crombie was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow today (Thursday) following his conviction.

Detective Inspector Vincent McLaughlin of the Inverness Public Protection Unit, the senior investigating officer in the case, said he hoped the sentence would bring some comfort to the victims.

"This case initially came to police attention following the bravery displayed by the victims who reported Michael Crombie for physical and sexual abuse," he said.

"The resulting police investigation identified a number of other victims and established a sickening course of conduct involving the physical and sexual abuse of women and the physical abuse of a child by Crombie.

"In all cases of violent sexual crime Police Scotland will conduct detailed and thorough investigations and work closely with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and other agencies to bring such perpetrators to justice and offer support for victims.

"These were terrible domestic abuse crimes committed by a dangerous predator towards females dating back to the early 1990s".

He continued: "As a result of the tremendous courage shown by all of his victims, Michael Crombie has been brought to justice, removed from society and the public are now protected from further abuse by him.

"I hope that this conviction and sentence will bring some comfort to the victims in this case and give confidence to any victims who have suffered similar experiences to come forward in the knowledge that their case will be sensitively and thoroughly investigated.

"Police Scotland is committed to actively pursuing perpetrators of domestic abuse through the work done by the Domestic Abuse Investigation Units and Domestic Abuse Task Forces to support local policing. Police Scotland will pro-actively focus resources on the perpetrators of domestic crime by profiling perpetrators and identifying victims to ensure that best evidence is gathered and such perpetrators are brought into the criminal justice system."

Anyone who feels they may have been a victim of any kind of abuse is urged to come forward and speak to Police in confidence.

They should contact police on 101, visit their local police station or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.