Serial abuser and rapist jailed for 12 years after 'barbarity' against three women in Aberdeen

A Serial abuser and rapist has been jailed for 12 years for a decade of “barbarity” against three women.

Daniel Esslemont preyed on his terrified victims including trying to kill one of them.

The crimes occurred between 2011 and 2021 at different addresses in Aberdeen.

The 31-year-old was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday.

He had earlier been convicted after a trial in Edinburgh of rape, physical assaults and attempted murder.

Judge Michael O’Grady KC told Esslemont: “You engaged in a course of conduct which was unremittingly cruel and abusive.

“You behaved at times with something that I can only described as little short of barbarity.

“There is nothing I can do which will undo the damage and pain that you caused.

“All I can do is bring some sense of closure to these victims, to punish you for the horrendous things you have done and provide what limited protection I can for the public in the future.”

Esslemont will also be supervised for a further four years on his release.

He will also be on the sex offenders list for life.

Esslemont’s first victim described him as “normal” before he ended up raping her.

The woman added: “He would tell me that he would murder my family and how he was going to do it. I was terrified.”

The second victim also recalled how she suffered at his violent hands.

She was raped and told to hand over money so he could pay off drug debts.

She told prosecutor Derick Nelson: “He said that if I told police about what happened to me, he would kill me and my family.”

Esslemont went on to try and kill the third woman in 2021.

Esslemont denied the accusations, but said he would punch walls to keep “calm”.

He also insisted choking women was a “kink” he had.

In his closing speech to jurors, Mr Nelson said Esslemont had “absolutely no respect for women”.

Following the sentencing, detective inspector Gordon Patullo of the Domestic Abuse Task Force said: “Daniel Esslemont has today been sentenced at Glasgow High Court for his appalling conduct towards three previous partners.

“His offending took place over a ten-year period with Esslemont committing repeated acts of rapes, violence and abusive behaviour towards these women.

“As was commented on by the Judge following Esslemont’s conviction, the crimes and behaviour for which he has been convicted of recognise the cruel and degrading way Esslemont treated his victims.

“Esslemont has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. In addition, he will also be supervised for a further 4 years on his release. He will also be on the sex offenders list for life.

“His conviction sends out a clear message that domestic abuse crimes will not be tolerated and Police Scotland will target those offenders who believe they can inflict pain and suffering on anyone without consequences.

“I would like to take this opportunity to reach out to anyone who is experiencing or has experienced domestic abuse; it is never too late to report it to the police or seek support and advice from one of our partner agencies.”