A WOMAN has hit out at the "leniency" of domestic abuse convictions in Scotland after a Clydebank man avoided jail.

Stuart Douglas, 39, was placed on a community payback order at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on June 13 and must complete 225 hours of unpaid work and be supervised for 18 months. 

He was also sentenced to a restriction of liberty order, meaning he must remain within his home each day between 7pm and 7am. 

Douglas, who is originally from Clydebank and now living in Knightswood, also had a non-harassment order granted against him which will be in place for a period of five years.

His victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, opened up about her frustration at the sentence handed to Douglas for the domestic abuse charge.

"I thought it was originally a good sentence because of the community service and the fact he was to wear an electronic tag would restrict him," she said. 

"However, in hindsight, it would have been better if he was jailed as the fact he is still out and about has left people on edge.

"I thought I would feel a lot better after he was sentenced but I am still very anxious about it all.

"I am constantly on edge mentally and have never felt as worried as I do now.

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"I think anyone who was aware of the situation did expect him to get jailed so it did come as a bit of a surprise when he received the conviction that he did.

"It has caused a lot of stress for people who were close to the situation." 

Back in April, a report conducted by HM Inspectorate of Prosecution (IPS) in Scotland concluded that the country's prosecution service is failing victims when preparing and prosecuting domestic abuse cases.

It stated that better communication with survivors was needed and recommended a more "victim-centred approach" be taken.

A review of 60 domestic abuse prosecutions assessed communication with 80 per cent of victims to be unsatisfactory.

The Crown Office accepted the report's recommendations and said it had "profound regrets" for how things had been handled.

"I think courts in Scotland are far too lenient on domestic abuse," the woman continued.

"A lot of people do not even receive the punishment that Stuart did, some walk away with just a fine.

"It feels like a lot of people charged with domestic abuse play the system and it needs to be changed."