Rian Hood

A serial domestic abuser and rapist from Scotland, Rian Hood, was convicted at the High Court in Elgin for a series of violent crimes against four women. The 31-year-old sobbed uncontrollably in the dock after the guilty verdict, described by witnesses as weeping 'like a baby' as he was remanded in custody.

Hood's offences spanned several years and involved severe physical and sexual abuse. One victim, Jade Doolan, detailed their toxic 18-month relationship that began in the summer of 2018. Initially appearing as the 'perfect' boyfriend, Hood's behaviour deteriorated due to cocaine and gambling addictions after losing his job, which he hid from her. He became controlling, banning her from contacting family, tracking her phone location, and regularly accusing her of infidelity.

• The first physical attack occurred in September 2018, when Hood threw Doolan out of their house in her underwear during a heated argument, slamming an ironing board into the wall and screaming abuse at her.
• He monitored her social media and demanded constant updates on her whereabouts, leaving her 'on eggshells'.
• On Christmas Eve 2019, Hood savagely beat Doolan, resulting in police intervention and his initial conviction for the assault.

Doolan eventually fled to a women's refuge to escape the abuse. She spoke bravely after the trial, stating: 'I am tortured everyday by what he did but I’m pleased he’s been found guilty and I hope the courts punish him harshly for the women he has harmed.' She added that learning of Hood's emotional breakdown in court provided her with a sense of justice: 'I was told by another victim who was in court that he’d cried like a baby as he was taken away - I wasn’t surprised. I always knew he would react like that. It’s called justice.'

The trial at the High Court in Elgin concluded in September 2022, with Hood convicted on charges including rape, abduction, and assault to danger to life. He is scheduled for sentencing the following month, where he faces a substantial custodial term. Doolan, who is receiving counselling for the trauma, emphasised the need for tougher sentences for such perpetrators, highlighting the lasting mental scars inflicted by Hood's actions.

This case underscores the pattern of coercive control and sexual violence in domestic abuse, with Hood's crimes affecting multiple victims over time. Images from the scene show the severe injuries Doolan sustained from the beatings.