Man jailed for campaign of violence and harassment

A man who subjected a woman to a catalog of violence, control and sexual abuse has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Christian Schonenberger, 22, abused his victim at various locations in the Dundee area over 12 months.

He was found guilty following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in September.

He also admitted repeatedly punching, kicking and stamping his two XL Bully dogs, as well as hitting them with various objects, including pots and pans.

The court was told Schonenberger isolated the victim from friends and family, prevented him from looking for work and needed to know where he was.

He prevented the woman from using social media to communicate with others and persistently contacted her via text and phone.

Schonenberger subjected the woman to repeated physical assaults, including grabbing her by the neck, strangling her and causing her to lose consciousness, causing injuries and life-threatening injuries.

He also repeatedly struck her in the head and body with a metal pole, prevented her from leaving the flat, held her against her will, and repeatedly struck her with knives, causing serious injuries and permanent disfigurement.

Schonenberger then prevented him from receiving medical attention for these injuries.

He then continued to control and harass the woman from prison.

He also told her not to go to court and tried to persuade her to withdraw the allegations she had made about him to the police.

The court heard the victim once sent him a video of himself repeatedly kicking and punching the dogs as they tried to leave him.

Schonenberger was given an extended sentence of seven and a half years, including four and a half years in pretrial detention.

His name was added to the sex offender registry indefinitely.

A non-harassment order banning Schonenberger from contacting or contacting the victim was granted indefinitely.

He was also banned from owning or keeping animals for 10 years.