A woman abused by her former partner said the criminal justice system failed her – after he walked free despite being given an 18-month jail term. Andrew Crawford subjected his victim to years of torture, including biting her, attacking her with a saw, putting a tracker device on her car and forcing her to strip to check she had not been unfaithful.
But the 43-year-old, from Perth, was able to leave the court a free man on the day he was sentenced because he had served half that time on remand. The victim, who has asked to remain anonymous to protect her young child, told how it was a devastating blow to know he had been given his liberty.
She said: “It was a real shock when I realised, despite being sentenced to 18 months, he’d be back in his own home that night – it didn’t feel like justice.
“He spent all that time on remand because he was continually breaking his bail conditions. While it was a relief that he was in prison, I feel like I’m now paying a price for it.”
She added: “This underlined for me how abandoned you feel as a victim of sexual and domestic violence.
“Your abuser has their own lawyer who pulls out all the stops and has all the rights in the world and you have nothing, no support, no representation, no justice.
“I don’t want other women not to report their attackers but the justice system has to be accountable and must do better.”
Crawford was facing domestic violence charges at Perth Sheriff Court when he breached his bail and was remanded in custody.
After a trial in September, he was convicted. He had earlier pled guilty to breaching his bail conditions. But because of time served, as is the law, he was released from custody immediately.
He was also handed a five-year non-harassment order.
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