Podcaster James English is to be considered for a behaviour programme after he was convicted of domestic abuse against his former partner, who was pregnant at the time, a court has heard.
The 43-year-old, host of the Anything Goes podcast, was found guilty of engaging in a course of behaviour which was abusive of the woman between July 2022 and November 2023 in Glasgow and elsewhere. He was convicted of several allegations on the single charge following a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
Details of the Abuse
These included an incident where he seized her neck and pinned her against a door when she was pregnant, and another where he pressed his thumbs into her eyebrows. Other incidents included kicking her on the body causing her to fall off a bed and striking her on the face.
The court heard how the pair had initially got together back in 2022, having met online. However, while English was "nice at first", the court heard how things quickly grew violent.
Victim's Account
The victim, who has not been named, said that the first incident of abuse took place while the couple were in bed. She stated: "He said that he wanted a cuddle...I just said that I was feeling a lot of sick, just give me a minute."
She said: "He kicked me off the bed to the side of my hip on the right side of my body as I was on the left side of the bed... It was quite forceful because I hit the wardrobe when I came off the bed."
The court heard how the violent episode continued after she left the room, with English grabbing her "by the shoulders" and "pushing her against a wall" with enough force to lift her "from [her] feet".
Threatening Messages
According to the prosecution, English "seized her by the neck, compressed it and pinned her against a door. This first episode lasted 10 seconds. The woman told the court that she was petrified, just panicking and he was aggressive."
The court also heard how English had struck "the woman's face with an open hand", and pulled her hair so hard that she lost balance. English was also described as sending threatening and abusive messages to her, including one which read: "You absolute waste. Get a job and support your family", another which read "slag", "fat slag" as well as "little b****." Another message told to the court read: "You are lucky I never f***ing battered you."
Sentencing Deferred
English was due to be sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Wednesday (November 11) but the court heard that a further report is needed so that he can be considered for the Caledonian Men’s Programme, a behaviour programme for men convicted of domestic abuse.
Tommy Ross KC, representing English, said that a justice social work report previously ordered by the sheriff was available, along with a reference by a former partner of English.
Sheriff David Hall told English: "I’ve had sight of the justice social work report, clearly you have co-operated fully in the preparation of the report. There is a request for you to be considered for the Caledonian Men’s Programme. They require a period of assessment and I am minded to allow that. I will defer sentence for the Caledonian Men’s Programme report to be prepared."
He said the court will also continue consideration of the issue of a non-harassment order. Sheriff Hall deferred sentence until December 11 at Glasgow Sheriff Court. English remains on bail.
