SENTENCING STATEMENTS

“Ian Ewart Ramsay, you have been found guilty of 16 charges against 9 woman – the great majority of whom were your former partners

These convictions are the result of what I can only describe as a campaign of domestic abuse carried out by you against these women over a period of 6 years. 

I heard the evidence during the eleven days of your trial and it is not appropriate to go through the detail of each of these charges again now.

Suffice it to say that on the basis of that evidence, it is clear to me, that you subjected each of these women to abuse: – you frightened them; you threatened them; you stalked them; you subjected them, to a really extraordinary and intolerable degree, to repeated and unwanted communication. 

At worst, you physically assaulted 3 of the women and you raped 4 of them.

These women appear to have little in common beyond having had the misfortune to have encountered you.

However, the common thread running through your conduct to all of these women is that you were not prepared to take “no” for an answer – from these women - whether in relation to being in communication with you; being in a relationship with you; or having sexual relations with you.

As a result of your conduct, it is apparent to me both from the evidence I have heard together with the Victim Impact Statements which I have read from some of the women that through your conduct you made the lives of these women traumatic and utterly miserable.

It is also clear that your actions have had a profound and long lasting impact on some of these women.  However, I consider that they are to be commended for being prepared to come forward as witnesses and being prepared to put themselves through the process of giving evidence against you.

The Criminal Justice Social Work report discloses that in respect of the great majority of the offences of which you have been convicted, including the most serious, you continue to deny any responsibility for these crimes.  You show no remorse for them at all.  

The author of the Criminal Justice Social Work report considers that, without intervention, the risk of problematic behaviour by you towards future partners is high and that your offending caused serious harm.

In terms of you record, I note that you have previous served a period of imprisonment.  I note also that in 2015 you were convicted for offences in respect of two of your previous partners – one of these women was also one of the victims of the offending with which I require to deal today.

I have had due regard to your record and to the Report in selecting the sentence for these charges.

I have also taken into account everything that has been said on your behalf by Mr Renucci and the positive factors that are mentioned in the CJSW Report. I take account of the fact that you are very fortunate to be supported by your immediate family.  I also recognise that you have both served in the armed forces and have been in employment for significant periods.

But as you will surely recognise, a lengthy period in custody is the only appropriate sentence I can pass on you to reflect your appalling conduct. 

I am also satisfied that the period for which you would otherwise have been on licence would not be adequate to protect the public from serious harm when you are eventually released.  In other words, I consider that an Extended Sentence is merited and appropriate in this case.

For that reason, in respect of charges 7, 10, 14, 19, 21, 28, 33, 34, and 35, I sentence you to an extended sentence of 16 years consisting of a custodial term of 13 years and an extension period of 3 years. 

The length of the custodial part of the sentence takes account of the fact that in respect of Charge 21, 33, 34 and 35 you committed the offences against your partner or ex-partner.

The custodial term will be backdated to 29 July 2020 when you were remanded in custody. 

The custodial term is not the end of your sentence.

The second part of your sentence will be served in the community.  From the date of your release, you will be under licence for an extension period of three years.  The conditions of your licence will be fixed by the Scottish Ministers. If during this extension period, you fail to comply with the conditions of your licence, it may be revoked; and you may be returned to custody for a further period in respect of this case.  The court also has power to deal with you if you commit another offence after your release and while you are on licence.

In respect of the remaining charges – that is charges 9, 15, 27, 30, 44, 48 and 50– standing the other sentence I have imposed, there is no alternative to a period of imprisonment. Accordingly, I impose a sentence of two and half years imprisonment.  This period takes account both of the aggravations in respect of charges 44 and 50 and the fact that charges 48 and 50 were committed while you were on bail.

This sentence is to run concurrently with the other sentence I have imposed

As a result of your conviction and the sentence imposed, you are subject to the notification requirements under Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for an indefinite period."