Former soldier from Fife sentenced to six years in prison for rape

Craig Marshall threatened and raped his first victim after she was pushed and fell to the ground in a house in Fife.

The 34-year-old strangled a second woman during attacks on her at addresses across the UK, including Cardenden, and placed a snake on her body.

He also subjected the woman to a car ride in which he drove at excessive speed and while drunk while she was a passenger.

Marshall, formerly of Church Street in Kirkcaldy, threatened to share intimate images of the woman with others.

READ MORE: Teenager charged after attacks at Cowdenbeath school

In an earlier trial, he denied a number of allegations but was found guilty of five counts, including assault, rape and abusive behaviour, committed between March 2007 and August 2021.

Judge Norman McFadyen told him at the High Court in Edinburgh: “These were serious and unpleasant crimes against women.”

“They reveal an attitude of denial and victim blaming.”

Marshall became a criminal as a teenager when he abused a woman between March 2007 and December of the following year.

During the attacks, he tried to hit her, grabbed her by the hair and neck, pushed her against a wall and threatened her.

READ MORE: Man jailed for making threats over debt in Cardenden

In July 2010, Marshall sexually assaulted the woman after she fell. He knelt on her arms, threatened her and raped her.

Between July 2015 and December 2018, he committed further attacks on his second victim, kicking her, pulling her hair, choking her and holding a knife to her throat.

He also rubbed food in the woman’s face and pushed her out of a house in Cardenden.

Marshall yelled and cursed at her, made insults and threats of violence, and destroyed phones and furniture.

In 2021, he posted videos on social media in which he insulted and threatened both women.

Defence lawyer Edward Targowski KC said that Marshall was “on combat duty” during his military career in Iraq, which led to mental health problems.

He was given a suspended sentence of another three years and could be sent back to prison if he violates the conditions.

Marshall was placed on the sex offenders’ registry indefinitely.