Company boss who abused his wife and trapped her in their £750,000 country house avoids jail
A company director who subjected his wife to vile abuse, followed her around and trapped her in their £750,000 country house, has avoided jail.Andrew Galbraith committed a hate crime by threatening wife Rebecca with violence and hurling anti-disability taunts at her during the sustained campaign of abuse.But his bullying led to his arrest after Mrs Galbraith spent months secretly recording him shouting and swearing at her in Denfield House, near Auchterarder in Perthshire.She racked up nearly 90 recordings of his vile rants before calling the police.Galbraith – who runs a forestry business registered at the sprawling property – admitted subjecting his wife to abuse when he appeared at Perth Sheriff Court.The 50-year-old, now of nearby Trinity Gask, admitted engaging in an abusive course of behaviour towards his wife between August 28, 2023, and September 12, 2024.Fiscal depute Jill Drummond told the court: ‘They had been married for five-and-a-half years, but the relationship was described as deteriorating since March 2023.’Mrs Galbraith was heavily pregnant in August 2023 when her mother heard her husband shouting and swearing, calling his wife horrific names and saying ‘she would probably miscarry’ before she gave birth two days later. Company director Andrew Galbraith (pictured) was arrested after his wife recorded him shouting and swearing at her in Denfield House, near Auchterarder in Perthshire Galbraith admitted threatening his wife with violence and hurling anti-disability taunts at her when he appeared at Perth Sheriff Court (pictured)Ms Drummond added: ‘He would call her “spastic and b****”. Some of it was observed by children.‘He would shout at her to leave the house. On August 15, 2024, the accused was ranting at her. He said, “You’re disgusting for having children with another man. You stupid f****** woman. You’re a f****** clown”.Ms Drummond told the court that Mrs Galbraith had needed support from Women’s Aid and wanted her estranged husband to be made subject to a non-harassment order.Galbraith admitted shouting, swearing, threatening violence and taking his wife’s phone from her.His solicitor said: ‘The marriage is over and the divorce process is in motion. The house is to be sold.’Sheriff Simon Collins placed Galbraith under social work supervision for two years and ordered him to carry out 200 hours unpaid work as an alternative to custody.He also banned him from having any contact with his wife for five years and ordered him to attend the Caledonian Men’s Programme for domestic abusers.
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Company boss who abused his wife and trapped her in their £750,000 country house avoids jail
