A GREENOCK man found guilty by a jury of a series of violent attacks and abusive incidents against three women over three decades has been locked up.

Sheriff Sheena Fraser told Colin McIver he had shown no empathy or remorse for the abuse that had caused 'significant' harm to his victims.

During a week-long trial earlier this year, the court heard that McIver had 'pure evil in his eyes' as he launched tirades against his former partners.

These included punching a heavily pregnant partner and choking a now-deceased ex.

McIver’s multiple offences, committed decades apart, included punching his heavily pregnant former partner on the stomach and repeatedly choking a now-deceased ex.

The 52-year-old was said to have 'terrorised' one of his victims.

A jury found him guilty of three charges.

McIver’s catalogue of assaults, committed at addresses in Greenock and Port Glasgow, included throwing a vacuum cleaner at another woman from the top of a set of stairs inside a block of flats.

It was also agreed by prosecutors and his defence team that McIver assaulted a fourth woman, also an ex-partner, in June 2019, though the details of that offence were not listed as a charge on the indictment.

At the sentencing hearing, pleas by his defence lawyer for community payback order and restriction of McIver's liberty were rejected by the sheriff.

Colin McIver Colin McIver (Image: George Munro)

Defence advocate Iain Smith told the court that his client's pattern of behaviour was a direct result of alcohol consumption.

He said that when Mr McIver had shown abstinence for a year, his abusive behaviour had ceased.

Mr Smith said: "We have heard about his poor experiences, his low mood and mental health. He has used alcohol as a way of coping."

Mr Smith tried to persuade Sheriff Fraser that his client would benefit from a community payback and an alcohol treatment order, with a restriction of his liberty.

Sheriff Sheena Fraser Sheriff Sheena Fraser (Image: George Munro) Sheriff Fraser said: "You were found guilty of assaults on your then partners, shouting and swearing, and controlling behaviours.

"We heard from the 12-year-old daughter of one of the women; as part of the family, you had control over her, and undoubtedly caused her significant harm.

"With regards to behaviour towards her and towards your partners, you have displayed no empathy and no remorse.

"This has met the criteria for a custodial sentence of 18 months."

In her closing statement before the jury delivered her verdict the procurator fiscal depute Maria Murdoch said there was evidence of "a dark world of domestic abuse" and "brutal and sustained assaults" perpetrated by McIver.