Scot smashed girlfriend's hamster to death during campaign of abuse

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A sadistic bully who smashed his girlfriend's pet hamster to death with a hammer during a sustained campaign of abuse has been made subject to a Lifelong Restriction Order.Arran Swift, 37, has been locked up for an indefinite period and banned for life from having any contact with his victim Siobhan McElvar.

At the High Court in Dundee on Wednesday, Lord Arthurson told Swift he would continue to pose a serious danger to the public if he was allowed his freedom.The case was remitted to the High Court from Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court for sentencing after Swift admitted subjecting his girlfriend to a 16-month campaign of violent abuse.

Swift killed his victim's hamster with the hammer before mutilating it and sending her a chilling message, stating: "Timmy isn't going to survive."Lord Arthurson said reports showed that Swift had "sadistic" tendencies and scored highly on a test to assess psychopathic behaviour.

He said: "You demonstrated extreme violence, controlling and somewhat sadistic behaviour towards your victim. You have used different aliases in relationships."When you are heavily intoxicated and in a state of inebriation you have felt the overwhelming desire to inflict serious pain on others.