A PROLIFIC domestic abuser has been jailed for violence towards three different partners over 12 years.

In one horrific incident, Mark Cochrane's erratic driving caused a woman to be thrown from a car.

The woman was screaming to be allowed out of the vehicle being driven at high speeds and through a red traffic light in Crossgates.

Cochrane then swung his car to the right at speed and the woman was thrown out onto the road, Dunfermline Sheriff Court heard on a previous occasion.

The victim was taken to the Victoria Hospital for treatment and Cochrane kept asking her what she was going to say happened.

One woman said he “made her life hell” and that he had told her: “You’re mine. You’re my girlfriend if you like it or not.”

Cochrane, 39, currently a prisoner at Perth, previously admitted a long catalogue of domestic abuse, starting in 2007 up to this year and involving three former partners at addresses in East Wemyss, Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline, Kelty and Edinburgh.

Cochrane’s offences included grabbing victims by the throat and biting one of them repeatedly.

He threatened to harm himself and put a knife against his throat and a rope around his neck in front of one partner.

On multiple occasions, he assaulted his partners and the most recent instance of abuse involved engaging in an abusive course of conduct towards his former partner.

Defence solicitor Stephen Morrison requested that his client be made subject to the Caledonian Project, which addresses the behaviour of domestic abusers.

However, Sheriff Charles Macnair believed the charges were too significant and found only a custodial sentence to be appropriate.

He said: "You have pleaded guilty to charges of domestic abuse over a period of some 12 and a bit years against three separate complainers.

"In my view, this behaviour is typical of controlling and abusive behaviour.

"All of the offending is serious but, in particular, the nature of the offending against (the most recent complainer) is a very serious matter.

"And part of that was committed whilst you were on bail.

"Somehow, she wrote a letter to the court and the special condition was removed.

"One of the incidents took place on May 12 and just a month later you were committing an offence on June 15.

"This offending must have had very serious consequences for your former partners.

"Having regard to the persistent nature of the offending, the number of complainers and the nature of the incidents, I am entirely satisfied that a lengthy custodial sentence is appropriate.

"I am entirely satisfied that you are a very serious risk."

Cochrane was jailed for a total of 21 months and 270 days.

He was also made subject to a supervised release order for 12 months when he has completed his sentence.

A non-harassment order was made in relation to his most recent partner for 10 years.