19 hours ago
Thug who tried to strangle ex-girlfriend avoids jail again after assaulting cop
'What does it take for the courts to say enough is enough and take these repeat offenders off the streets?'
A dad who tried to strangle his ex-girlfriend hours after being granted bail has avoided jail again after assaulting a police officer.
Ben Polland turned up at his former partner's home and threatened to kill her in February last year.
Weeks later he pled guilty to breaching an order not to contact his ex, 22, but hours after being granted bail he turned up at her home and assaulted her again.
Polland, 20, from Galston, Ayrshire, repeatedly punched the mum, who had given birth only weeks before, on the head and body before putting his hands around her neck and restricting her breathing.
In May last year he appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court where he admitted assaulting and threatening to kill her.
However the thug avoided jail and was given a restriction of liberty order for six months which meant he was freed with an electronic tag.
We can reveal Polland's violent offending has continued without any jail punishment.
Last week he admitted assaulting a police constable and breaching an order not to contact his ex or approach her home.
But instead of prison time walked away with another restriction of liberty order.
Last night a source close to the victim's family said: 'What does it take for the courts to say enough is enough and take these repeat offenders off the streets?'
Polland is the stepson of offshore worker William Kelly, 48, who murdered his 71-year-old mum, Cathy, by dousing her in petrol and igniting it at her home in Kilmarnock. He was jailed for a minimum of 23 years in 2018.
Scottish Tory MSP Sharon Dowey said: 'Thanks to the SNP's reckless bail law, far too many violent criminals like Ben Polland evade sufficient punishment and are able to roam Scotland's streets.'
