A HUSBAND who had been accused of tormenting his previously cancer-stricken police officer wife has been found guilty of threatening or abusive behaviour towards her following a trial at Greenock Sheriff Court that has taken nearly a year to conclude.

Russell Laing committed the offence against his victim - a senior officer now seconded to Interpol - in Inverclyde and elsewhere during a period spanning five years, between May 2015 and March 2019.

But businessman Laing, 51 - whom the court heard used the woman's critical illness payment from Police Scotland to clear his gambling debts totalling £40,000 - has been acquitted of an allegation of controlling and coercive behaviour towards her.

However, a sheriff - who found that charge not proven - told Laing that he didn't believe much of his evidence, whilst being 'not entirely satisfied' that a course of abusive conduct had been established. 

The long-running summary trial began in January and has finally concluded following a series of part-heard adjournments during the course of the year.

Laing's wife - a detective inspector - had told the court previously: "He told me I'd not supported him enough through my illness. I don't think I'll ever recover from that statement."

READ MORE: Abuse accused 'used wife's critical illness cash to clear debts'

The woman - who underwent two lumpectomy operations in 2017 — described her estranged husband as 'insecure' and 'jealous'.

She said that Laing had claimed he was 'entitled' to her critical illness money because he had 'bankrolled' her hospital treatment through his garage business's medical insurance.

Giving evidence on the final day of the trial, Laing said he was supportive of his wife during the initial stages of her diagnosis and denied a suggestion from procurator fiscal depute Kavin Ryan-Hume that his 'interest faded as he was not the centre of attention'.

Laing said: "We are lucky enough to have private healthcare and a family member was able to refer me to one of the best doctors in that field pretty much straight away.

"I was there with her getting mammograms etc up until she went back to work."

After initially refusing to take credit for the medical treatment, Laing told the court: "I paid for the private healthcare, so, yes, it was down to me."

READ MORE: Police officer's abuse accused husband accessed her bank account, trial hears

The complainer's sister, also a police officer, previously gave evidence claiming Laing was a 'controlling person'.

In a recorded video of a confrontation which was played to the court, she could be heard shouting: "I always said I would have my day with you, see you six feet under. I will destroy you."

She also told Laing she wouldn't be happy until he was 'mentally, physically and financially ruined'.

Sheriff James Varney was urged by Laing's defence solicitor to reject the woman's evidence as she was 'not an impartial, credible or reliable witness'.

Laing, who denied he was an 'overly suspicious or jealous man', was questioned over a 'girls' trip' his wife went on to Wales in May 2015, during which he joined the all-female group claiming he made the 300-mile, three-and-a-half-hour journey to 'bring her clothes'.

He was accused of 'inserting himself into a position of control', while a similar allegation followed when his wife got a promotion at work in 2016.

READ MORE: 'Controlling' domestic abuse accused left police officer wife 'cowering in fear'

He was said to have described her new job as like 'walking off a cliff edge', and told the court: "I didn't have any relations with her new colleagues, whereas before I was friendly with her colleagues through events and playing golf.

"It was a concern because things had certainly changed. It was different."

Laing agreed with fiscal depute Mr Ryan-Hume's assertion that 'she is not going to work to bring you friends'.

He denied spying on his wife after viewing a personal email about a job with Interpol, and branded the suggestion that he was monitoring her movements, social media and messages as 'ridiculous'.

Laing said: "In my opinion there are a lot of things that have been portrayed in a different way."

During legal submissions to the court, prosecutor Mr Ryan-Hume said people may ask why someone in that 'abusive relationship' did not flee immediately.

READ MORE: Sister of cancer survivor alleged domestic abuse victim urged her to leave husband

The fiscal depute added: "The suggestion may be that she exaggerated or even lied but that is too simplistic an approach for such a complicated situation.

"It fails to take into account the complexity of human emotion and the near-20-year commitment to a person.

"The abuse alleged here is interweaved with daily life, it is a constant thread.

"Abuse was a path she walked down regularly.

"She stayed with him at her cost. Her love for him, she said, never stopped.

"It is easy to dismiss these behaviours in isolation but it is the accumulation which makes it abusive."

READ MORE: Man accused of domestically abusing critically ill wife gives evidence at trial

Laing's lawyer responded: "Mr Laing chose to put his credibility on the line and in one way that helped the Crown case because he accepts that certain things happened and he was doing his best to tell the truth.

"The dynamic of the relationship changed.

"This was a series of separate incidents and it has not been established beyond reasonable doubt that the offences were a course of conduct.

"The context of the behaviour is crucial."

Sheriff Varney found Laing guilty of one charge and not proven on another, with sentence deferred until January 17.