Survivor gets justice as Barlinnie TV documentary brute is jailed for campaign of 'violent' domestic abuse

Daily Record

15-05-2025

Andrew Cunningham was told by a sheriff that for two years he'd made the woman's life a misery including threatening her with a knife.
A Scots domestic abuse survivor who was forced to sell her home to escape her "controlling and violent" ex says she has finally got justice as he was jailed yesterday.
Cocaine addict Andrew Cunningham was locked up for 17 months at Hamilton Sheriff Court for a two-year campaign of terror against his former partner.
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The 36-year-old joiner was told by a sheriff that for two years he'd made the woman's life a misery including threatening her with a knife.
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Cunningham admitted a course of abusive behaviour towards the female at an address in Glen Bervie, East Kilbride, and elsewhere between 2022 and last year.
He also admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice by warning the woman not to give evidence against him.
He was sentenced at Hamilton Sheriff Court where he was also handed a 15-year non-harassment order.
Last month Cunningham infuriated Sheriff John Hamilton KC when background reports weren't ready as he'd missed an interview with a social worker at HMP Barlinnie where he was being held.
Cunningham failed to attend the meeting because he was involved in the filming of a BBC documentary about the prison which left his victim feeling "completely disgusted".
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Commenting on the sentence today, she told Lanarkshire Live she was "pleased" he got a custodial sentence for the "seriousness" of the abuse she endured.
After bravely facing her abuser in court she said: "It was a very stressful day but I was pleased with the outcome. I wasn't sure going in if he would be given a custodial but I am happy that Sheriff Hamilton recognised the seriousness of the abuse he put me through.
"I was also extremely pleased with the 15-year non-harassment order which is an usually lengthy time period, again due to the seriousness of the abuse I endured."
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At this week's hearing defence lawyer Ruth Wallace said Cunningham would be "eternally ashamed" of his conduct towards his ex-partner.
She told the court he had been a successful businessman but "lost everything" due to cocaine addiction and his offending behaviour.
He had been "struggling significantly with his mental health" during the period when the domestic abuse happened.
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Ms Wallace said: "It was a couple of years when everything was drastically out of control.
"He accepts responsibility and seems to be a changed man. There is true remorse."
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Blasting the excuses for his vile behaviour, Cunningham's victim said: "I do not believe there is genuine remorse at all. The fact that the social worker made reference to him paying 'lip service' and saying what he thought he should be saying as well as saying that he lacked insight into the effect his abuse had on me demonstrates he was putting on an act - something he is very good at doing.
"Like many domestic abusers he can be very charming and I think he has tried to charm his way out of what he has done. Even when he was being taken down to the dock he stared at my family again.
"I found it galling to have to sit and listen to his defence agent list all the ways Andrew's life has been affected by his behaviour and try to excuse his behaviour on his cocaine use and mental health. I believe that his cocaine use merely escalated his controlling, jealous and abusive tendencies as opposed to causing them."
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Passing sentence, Sheriff Hamilton told Cunningham, of Harrington Road, East Kilbride: "Your conduct was truly appalling.
"It was an extremely serious, prolonged, two-year period of controlling, coercive, aggressive and violent behaviour towards your partner.
"It involved violence, threatening her with a weapon, spitting and threats to her family. Clearly you made her life a misery and there are long-term consequences.
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"Despite your position that you were using cocaine, you must have known at the time the effect of your conduct on her."
Cunningham's victim has met with East Kilbride MSP Collette Stevenson and wrote to Justice Minister Angela Constance to highlight the negative experiences she had through the justice system.
She believes "huge changes" are needed for victims of violence against women and girls and called on victims or families of victims to apply for Clare's Law disclosures to keep women safe from men like Andrew Cunningham.
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"Now I am aware of the dangers of domestic abuse and the red flags, I can see how many of his behaviours were alarming from the start", she went on.
"Many of my friends and family also noticed red flags early on and considered applying for Clare's Law. I would encourage anyone who is in a similar situation, either themselves or a friend of theirs, to ask for a Clare's Law disclosure as I believe it's a really useful tool in keeping women safe from men like Andrew.
"The effect that his abuse has had on me has been significant. I have had to sell my home as I no longer felt safe and during the period of abuse I weighed only 39kg [six stone] at my lowest.
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"Although I am pleased with the fact that he pled guilty to what he did and has received a custodial sentence and I feel I have got justice, I do feel that there are many who are being failed.
"He is a danger to women and will continue to be in the future."