AN ALLOA man originally charged with dozens of violent and sexual offences has been given a jail term of 18 months after the majority of the case collapsed.

Dean Allen was prosecuted at the High Court in Glasgow last month after being accused of repeatedly raping and abusing four women over a 12-year period, dating back to 2002.

In addition, a single allegation of rape against a fifth woman was also brought against him.

When he was first arrested, the 30-year-old been facing a total of 57 charges, including attempted murder, assault to severe injury, indecent assault, abduction and common assault.

However, by the time the case was handed over to the jury to consider, only a handful of allegations remained.

And in the end, Allen was convicted of just three common assaults, against two of the complainers and given an 18-month jail sentence.

One of the complainers in the trial, has spoken of her devastation at hearing the final verdict.

Though she accused Allen of raping her on a number of occasions throughout their relationship, he was convicted only of assaulting her by threatening her, pulling her hair and punching and kicking her to the head and body.

She told the Advertiser: “The trial tortured me; I’m already having nightmares about it.

“I was absolutely shocked by how it turned out – I cried on the phone when I heard the verdict.

“Police told me he was looking at a life sentence. There’s no way I would have gone through with the trial if this is what was going to happen.

“We just feel really let down. No one could have expected it was going to go this way."

She added: “I was sure that after the trial was through then the whole thing would be over. But it’s not over for me.

“He’ll be out soon and I’ll need to speak to a lawyer about getting an interdict or power of arrest against him.”

Allen was arrested last year and appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court Friday, May 8, charged with 57 offences.

Less than a week later, he reappeared in court with the charges reduced to 38 in total, including 11 rapes and three attempted murders.

When the case finally called for trial on March 1 this year, there were 32 charges on the indictment, and then 29 after discussions between the two legal teams.

However, after the prosecution concluded its case, the presiding judge upheld a defence motion of no case to answer in respect of 21 of them.

The remaining eight eventually went to the jury for consideration.

And when they returned from their deliberations, Allen was found not guilty of one charge of rape and not proven in respect of four other rape charges.

They found him guilty of three assault charges, one against Ms Wootton and two against another complainer.

Allen had always argued that any sexual activity between himself and the women had been consensual.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “We note the decision of the court in relation to this trial.

“Police Scotland remains committed to thoroughly investigating all reports of violent offences and bringing those responsible to account for these crimes.”