A sex offender who left a woman scarred during a "horrific" campaign of abuse and coercive control has been jailed for six years.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Charlie Swain also beat her with a belt and held a knife to her neck before she contacted police.

The court hear the woman suffered repeated violence and intimidation over a prolonged period, and that he marked her body so that "everyone would know that I was his".

Swain, now 21, had denied a series of charges during an earlier trial but was convicted of three offences, including subjecting the victim to repeated abuse at locations in Edinburgh.

Following the trial, Swain was also convicted of a course of prolonged abuse against a second victim, who was a teenager at the time.

Det Sgt Euan Stobie said: "Swain is a dangerous individual who subjected women to horrific, violent attacks, which has understandably had a profound impact on them."

Warning: This article contains details that readers may find distressing

The trial had that heard Swain cut both his first name and surname into the first complainer's thigh multiple times over the same area.

The woman, who still has scars from her ordeal, said Swain had told her that if he marked her "everyone would know I was his, that I belonged to him".

The court heard how she had shown the scar to a friend during a night out in the city.

The friend said: "It said 'Charlie' as if he had taken a knife and dug it in."

She added: "It seemed pretty fresh. There was a little bit of dried blood on it.

"I told her that was not normal and she said he had inflicted it on her. She was pretty upset."

The woman said the mutilation inflicted on her by Swain made her feel sick and added: "I still have scars to this day."

The witness said Swain's violence escalated when he consumed alcohol and drugs.

She said he used a belt to whip her "everywhere".

She told the court: "I remember putting my hands up to my face.

"I think I was pleading with him to stop.

"He was laughing when he was hitting me with the belt".

The jury also heard Swain got a large knife and held it to her neck.

She added: "I thought I was going to die."

When Swain went to the bathroom she called the police.

A judge told Swain, from Carrick Knowe, Edinburgh, that his conduct towards the victim was violent and abusive and caused harm.

Lord Summers ordered that Swain should be placed under supervision in the community for a further two years following his jail term, when he will be under licence.

Following the trial, it was revealed Swain was also convicted of prolonged abuse against a second victim, who was a teenager at the time.

Lord Summers said: "This course of conduct involved verbal abuse, physical violence and sexual assault."

The court heard Swain continued to have sex with the girl after she withdrew her consent.

He also threatened her, struck her and kicked her during the abuse between 2020 and 2022.

Defence counsel David Taylor said that Swain was diagnosed with ADHD and suffered health issues.

He said: "It is clear he has some way to go in respect of maturity."

Taylor said that a major factor in his client's behaviour was his abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine.

Swain was placed on the sex offenders register and non-harassment orders were made banning him from contacting or attempting to contact victims indefinitely.

Police Scotland said it hoped the sentencing would bring a sense of closure for Swain's victims.

Det Sgt Stobie said: "Police Scotland remains absolutely committed to tackling violence against women and girls and is determined to bring those responsible to justice.

"I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of such crimes to come forward and report it to us.

"We will thoroughly investigate and have specially trained officers and partner agencies to support you throughout."