ALLEGED victims of a claimed 'violent domestic abuser' have told a trial they were too embarrassed to report their injuries and ordeals until they felt their lives were in danger.

Two women have spoken out against former partner Joseph Gallacher at Greenock Sheriff Court, claiming they suffered regular beatings and mental torture from him.

Gallacher, 45, faces a total of ten indictment charges and gave evidence in front of a jury yesterday, denying any knowledge of assaulting the complainers.

He is said to have attacked the women on multiple occasions at his Clydeview Road home and elsewhere in the town between 2006 and 2007, and between 2013 and 2021.

One of the women, who began a 'purely sexual' 11-month relationship with Gallacher when she was in her early 20s, said she was forced to take several shifts off work due to visible injuries allegedly caused by Gallacher.

The witness described one occasion, following Gallacher's brother's wedding, when she was allegedly knocked out after an argument.

She said: "I must've been unconscious, passed out, because I woke up on the floor and he was fast asleep in his bed.

"He didn't or couldn't remember what happened.

"I had a really bad headache, tinnitus, and I had to speak to my manager the next day.

"I said I had fallen and banged my head. I knew what had happened, I was just too embarrassed to tell anyone."

The witness said further incidents occurred, leaving her with more injuries.

She told the court: "Within seconds his demeanour could completely change, as if he just lost control."

She said she was fooled into believing Gallacher's alleged behaviour was her fault, but said: "I have never been in a relationship like that, I have never been to jail or court, I have never been in a fight.

"Things escalated and he wasn't hitting me on my arms or back any more, he wasn't scared to leave a physical deformity for others to see.

"I felt silly and embarrassed when people asked 'Why would you stay with him?' I left when I realised my life could potentially be in jeopardy."

Asked what caused all of her injuries, the complainer - who did not acknowledge the accused by name during her evidence - replied: "Him."

The trial heard evidence from another woman who was in a relationship with Gallacher for nearly a decade after meeting him on a night out.

She told the court it was an 'OK relationship to start with but then it became violent', and referred to several alleged incidents including allegations that the accused 'bounced her off the walls', headbutted her, threatened her with a knife and threw a baby gate at her.

Referencing one occasion in 2014, the woman said: "I screamed 'You are going to kill me' and that caused him to stop.

"He apologised later that night and said it wouldn't happen again.

"I just felt numb."

The woman's mother told the court: "It wasn't my daughter that looked at me.

"I didn't recognise her.

"It was horrible. I can't get that image out of my head."

Gallacher took to the witness stand yesterday to claim both women were lying and that he had no recollection of any alleged assaults.

Prosecutor Maria Murdoch told him: "I put it to you that you are lying.

"You punched these women, you strangled them, rendered them unconscious, seized them by the hair, threw objects at them, pushed them, struck them, on various occasions during your relationship."

The trial continues.