A former war hero has been jailed for a catalogue of abusive behaviour towards his former partner.

Military Cross recipient Christopher Reynolds, an expert sniper, threatened to kill the woman and any male she had a relationship with, Dunfermline Sheriff Court heard.

In the dock for sentencing was 39-year-old Reynolds, of Strathbeg Drive, Dalgety Bay.

He admitted that between April 1, 2021 and May 9 last year, he engaged in an abusive course of conduct towards his ex-partner.

He damaged items of clothing, shouted and swore at her, made derogatory comments to her, threatened to kill her, and persistently contacted her by phone calls, text messages, social media applications and emails in which he accused her of infidelity.

He threatened to cause harm to himself, threatened to assault any male she had a relationship with, threatened to damage her car, sent an intimate video of her which he had claimed he had deleted and made derogatory comments about her appearance.

Defence solicitor Alexander Flett said his client suffered from mental health issues including PTSD following his time in the army.

He went on: “However, he’s not somebody trying to avoid responsibility for what he’s done. He had on-going mental health issues and the use of alcohol was problematic.”

The solicitor said his client’s mental health deteriorated in the summer of 2021 when British troops withdrew from Afghanistan where he had formerly served.

Sheriff Susan Duff jailed Reynolds for 16 and a half months.

She told him: “You subjected your ex-partner to a catalogue of abuse. She knew of your military background and that you were a trained sniper. You made threats to kill any male she had a relationship with.”

The sheriff told him his conduct to the woman had been “shameful” including threatening her with violence if he was given a jail sentence.

During his service in Afghanistan, Reynolds, then a Black Watch corporal, killed a Taliban warlord during a fierce gun battle – from more than a mile away.

He camped on a roof for three days as he waited for perfect conditions to take the shot.

In 2010, he was awarded the Military Cross by the Queen at a ceremony in Edinburgh.