Midlothian soldier who carried out horror eight-year campaign of abuse against partner is jailed
Midlothian soldier sent to jail
A soldier who carried out a horror eight year campaign of abuse and assault against his partner has been jailed for more than three years and banned from contacting his victim for life.
Darryn Bezuidenhout, 41, strangled and spat in the face of his ex and repeatedly made threats to kill her while the pair were in a long-term relationship between 2017 and last year.
Bezuidenhout also shouted, swore and repeatedly seized the woman by the neck, while one attack saw the serviceman knock her from a chair and drag her across the floor of their former home in Penicuik, Midlothian.
Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told of a separate incident where the lance corporal with 2 Scots The Royal Regiment of Scotland seized the terrified victim on the body, threw her on to a bed and repeatedly spat in her face.
Further offences included Bezuidenhout making violent gestures towards the woman while holding a glass vase, repeatedly contacting her by phone and watching her movements on a Ring doorbell.
The serious catalogue of abuse and violent assaults carried out by the South African national took place between January 1, 2017 and June 3, 2025.
The offences were prosecuted section 1 of the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016 and were said to be aggravated by involving abuse of a partner, or ex-partner.
Bezuidenhout, of Glencorse Barracks, Penicuik, Midlothian, denied all the allegations but was found guilty by a jury following a six day trial at the capital court in August this year.
The disgraced soldier returned to the dock on Tuesday, October 27, where Sheriff Christopher Dickson was given a victim impact statement detailing how the campaign of abuse has affected victim.
The sheriff sentenced Bezuidenhout to a 42-month prison term and issued him with a non-harassment order that prohibits any contact with the victim for the rest of his life.