A former Police Scotland officer has been sentenced to three years and nine months in prison for a series of controlling, violent, and sexual abuses that inflicted severe trauma on three women. Christopher Ferguson, 31, was convicted of nine charges, including two counts of voyeurism, following a trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court. In addition to his prison sentence, Ferguson has been placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.
The court heard that Ferguson's campaign of abuse spanned 14 years in the Lanarkshire area, with some of the offences occurring while he was employed as a policeman at Helen Street station in Glasgow. His actions included repeated physical assaults, psychological control, and stalking. He monitored one woman’s phone, dictated her clothing choices, and even waited outside a relative's home to stalk her.
Another victim endured violent assaults, including being choked on multiple occasions, and had intimate photos of her shared without consent. A third woman was pushed down a flight of stairs, causing injury, and was also stalked by Ferguson, who monitored her movements and contacted her during an ongoing investigation against him.
Ferguson was arrested and charged in 2021 after a thorough investigation by police, who took proactive steps to identify and reach out to other potential victims. On top of his prison sentence, Ferguson has been issued non-harassment orders, barring him from contacting any of the women for 10 years.
Les Brown, Procurator Fiscal for South Strathclyde, praised the courage of the women who came forward, saying, "It took immense bravery to speak out against a figure of authority. The Crown is committed to the fair prosecution of domestic and sexual crimes, regardless of the offender’s position."
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston also commended the survivors for their strength in reporting the crimes, emphasizing that the police will thoroughly investigate all reports, regardless of who is involved. "Criminality or misconduct by officers damages public confidence, and there is no place in policing for those who do not uphold our values," he stated.