Man who asked judge not to lock him up so he could go on holiday jailed

Raymond Graham returned to the High Court in Glasgow for sentencing <i>(Image: Colin Mearns)</i>

(Image: Colin Mearns)

A man who asked a judge not to lock him up so he could go on holiday has been jailed for more than nine years.

Raymond Graham had subjected a woman to a horror three-year ordeal leaving her so badly affected she ended up in hospital.

The suffering at the 36 year-old's hands including being choked, slashed with a knife, battered with a crash helmet and threatened she would be thrown off a balcony.

He today returned to the High Court in Glasgow having earlier pled guilty to four aggravated assault charges - two to the danger of the woman's life.

Brazen Graham, of Dundee, had instructed his lawyer last month to try and have his bail continued to allow the serial offender to go on a pre-booked break with a relative.

But, Lord Scott dashed his getaway hopes and remanded him in custody pending sentencing today.

The judge jailed him for a total of nine years and four months also ordering he be supervised for a further three years on his release.

As he was led handcuffed to back to the cells, one of his supporters in court shouted towards Graham: "Chin up, bro."

The court heard how Graham and the woman had met in 2021.

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Later that year, they were together in Majorca, Spain when he flew into a jealous rage while she was on her phone.

Prosecutor Samantha Brown said he called her “a s** t” and shouted he would throw her off the hotel balcony.

Graham grabbed her, but she wriggled free. He then locked her outside the room.

After she managed to get in, he smashed glass with a shard striking her in the eye.

Graham wrecked the room, hit her with a hair dryer and tore up her passport.

Miss Brown: “She lay curled up on top of the bed.”

Graham went on to slash her across the chest with a knife luckily only scratching the victim.

She also suffered bruising and swelling as a result of this incident.

Weeks later, Graham attacked her again at a house in Dundee annoyed that she was going on a night-out.

The woman jumped into bed to hide from him. He then hit her with a clothes rail so hard that it bent.

Miss Brown: “He took hold of a motorbike helmet in the room and repeatedly struck her with it.”

He also grabbed her by the hair, broke a lamp and chucked clothes around.

The victim – who was left with a “egg-shaped” lump on her face – escaped to a neighbour.

In September 2024, the woman was suspicious about texts she had seen on his Apple Watch from other women and confronted him at a flat in Angus.

He instead accused her of infidelity.

After a row, Graham started punching the terrified woman and smacking her with a glass bottle.

He then pushed her onto her back and choked her tightly with one hand.

The court heard the woman passed out – only to come to and find herself covered in blood.

Graham screamed: “You made me do this. This is your fault.”

She got medical help, but claimed she had fallen. The woman needed stitches and was left scarred from head injuries.

The final attack occurred later that year after Graham demanded she get in his car.

He drove through country roads while assaulting her.

Police later spoke to the victim – she was hurt, but again initially claimed she had been in a fall.

But, she eventually ended up needing to go to hospital.

It was soon after she bravely admitted how she had suffered leading to Graham being arrested.

Sentencing, Lord Scott said he had read a victim impact statement from the woman.

The judge told Graham: "Having been physically and mentally damaged by what you did - causing her to continue to struggle - through time, she says she has healed and wished you to get the help that you clearly need.

"Despite what she had suffered, literally at your hands, she still sees in you some prospect of change with support."