Podcaster James English is due to be sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Wednesday, 11 November, after being found guilty of domestic abuse against a former partner.

English, 43, from Larkhall in South Lanarkshire, was convicted on 25 August after a 12-day trial. Sheriff David Hall found that he had engaged in a course of behaviour that was abusive of a partner or former partner between July 2022 and November 2023, in Glasgow and elsewhere.

The single charge contained 19 allegations. The sheriff found six of them proven, and one allegation was withdrawn by the Crown during the trial. Sentencing was deferred so that background reports could be prepared, and English has remained on bail.

Sentencing deferred twice before today

English had been due to be sentenced in September, but the hearing was postponed because a report ordered by the court was not ready. His lawyer, Calum Weir, told the court that a further meeting with a social worker was required.

Sheriff Hall then deferred sentence until 11 November. The court will also continue to consider whether to make a non-harassment order.

The trial and the evidence

The court heard that English repeatedly attacked the 30-year-old woman at his flat in Argyle Street, Glasgow, and elsewhere, and that some of the abuse took place while she was pregnant. Sheriff Hall told the court he considered the victim to be credible and reliable.

English denied the charge. It was also revealed during the proceedings that he has previous convictions, mainly for road traffic matters.

The offence of engaging in a course of abusive behaviour towards a partner or former partner was created by the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, which came into force in April 2019. The Act covers behaviour that a reasonable person would consider likely to cause physical or psychological harm, including controlling and intimidating conduct.

Who is James English?

English first became known through the Scottish reality television series Glow and went on to launch the podcast Anything Goes with James English, which has more than 800,000 subscribers on YouTube. His guests have included former footballer Paul Gascoigne, boxer Tony Bellew and snooker player Jimmy White.

The sentencing hearing is listed before Sheriff Hall at Glasgow Sheriff Court. English attended the September hearing in person, when the court heard that the outstanding report was still not ready. The sheriff has not yet indicated what penalty he will impose.

Sources: Gazette & Herald and Glasgow Times.