CAMPAIGNERS have hit out at the “shocking” decision not to jail a serial abuser of women in Dumbarton.

David Millard, 38, was ordered by the High Court to do unpaid work in the community despite being found guilty of terrorising a former partner, punching her, hitting her with a baton, hurling furniture and leaving abusive messages.

The crimes occurred between March 2011 and November 2014 at addresses in Clydebank, Dumbarton and Helensburgh.

Millard, listed in court papers as a resident of George Street, Alexandria, was convicted of assault as well as behaving in a threatening and abusive manner at a trial last month.

He had also been accused of rape against the former partner and a second ex, but was cleared.

But women’s aid workers said Millard’s light punishment “undermined the tireless work of those on the ground striving to challenge attitudes and myths around male violence against women”.

Millard has previous convictions for assault with a knife in 2012 and for threatening or abusive behaviour in 2017. He was jailed for three years in 2017 for subjecting the two former partners to months of extreme stalking.

Clydebank Women’s Aid said: “Whilst this is a shocking decision we are not surprised. Once again the legal system has failed women and starkly demonstrates that male violence against women must be understood in all facets of society in order to see an equitable administration of justice. Failure to do so gives abusers a free pass to roam the streets, enter our homes and rape in relationships without fear of retribution.

“How can we abolish the system of oppression that allows these behaviours to flourish when those at the top fail to acknowledge the adverse impact the decisions they make will have on women’s safety?

“We, and many other feminist organisations like ourselves, strive to see an end to male violence against women but how can this be achieved when at a local, national and international level there is, at best, a complete and total disregard of how the oppression of women continues to govern how we live our lives.”

At the High Court in Glasgow last week, Lord Richardson said the victim had been left affected by what Millard had done.

However, the judge added: “Having weighed everything up, I thought very seriously about imposing imprisonment.

“However, I am prepared to give you an opportunity.”

The judge imposed a community payback order which will involve Millard carrying out 250 hours of unpaid work.

He will also be supervised for two years.

Lord Richardson told him: “If you fail to comply, you will be returned back to this court.”

In his trial last month, Millard was convicted of, on various dates between March 1, 2011 and November 5, 2014, at properties in Airdrie, Helensburgh, Rosneath, Cove and elsewhere, assaulting Woman A, seizing hold of her body, dragging her by her body, pushing her on the body, punching and striking her on the head, pinning her against a couch, struggling with her, striking her on the body with a baton, all to her injury.

On the same dates and locations, as well as properties in Clydebank and Dumbarton, he shouted, swore, behaved aggressively, damaged household items, threw items within the properties, sent threatening and abusive messages to Woman A, directed derogatory comments towards her and uttered threats.