Gabriele Tersigni – Edinburgh

A police officer carried out a sustained two-year campaign of domestic abuse that left his partner so distressed she twice attempted to take her own life.

Gabriele Tersigni, 25, subjected the woman to controlling and coercive behaviour between January 2023 and December 2024. His actions included monitoring who she could see, insisting on accompanying her on nights out, searching her phone without permission, and repeatedly accusing her of infidelity.

The court heard Tersigni regularly insulted the woman with degrading language and even told her that if they had children together, he “would not love them because they came from her.”

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told the victim became increasingly isolated and emotionally broken during the relationship. Her mother eventually took her to hospital after finding her in a severely distressed state.

Prosecutor Hannah Fairbrother said the woman began self-harming and attempted suicide twice as a result of the abuse. She later gathered evidence by secretly recording incidents and documenting his behaviour before confiding in her mother and reporting the matter to police in February last year.

Tersigni admitted engaging in a course of abusive behaviour when he appeared in court earlier this year.

During sentencing, Sheriff Graeme Watson condemned the officer’s actions, describing the abuse as one of the worst examples of coercive control he had encountered. He said the victim had been “demeaned, belittled and humiliated” over a prolonged period, resulting in serious harm.

Although currently suspended from Police Scotland, Tersigni avoided a prison sentence. Instead, he was placed under supervision for two years, ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work, and instructed to attend the Caledonian Men’s Programme for domestic abuse rehabilitation. He was also fitted with an electronic tag and placed under a 12-hour nightly curfew for the next year.

The sheriff warned Tersigni that any breach of the order could result in a custodial sentence.

Chief Superintendent Helen Harrison of Police Scotland said the officer’s conduct was completely unacceptable and praised the victim for her courage in coming forward. She stressed that all allegations involving police officers are fully investigated and that officers are expected to uphold professional standards both on and off duty.