She was four weeks away from marrying a serial rapist. But her family refused to ignore the feeling that something was off

Warning: The article contains details of alleged sexual harassment and abuse. Please read with caution.

A woman, 30, from Scotland was forced to face a terrifying reality four weeks before she was scheduled to walk down the aisle. She has chosen to remain anonymous and simply goes by the name Amy — but the man she was about to marry was a violent predator, and her family was willing to do everything to stop her from making an obvious mistake.

According to the BBC, Christopher Malcolm was a domestic abuser and serial rapist with a charge sheet that stretched back nearly two decades. But to Amy, he initially presented himself as a supportive and loving partner with few obvious faults.

The two met on Tinder in Aug. 2023. The first red flag for her family was the sheer, dizzying pace at which the relationship moved. Within seven days, the couple was already meeting each other’s parents. By Christmas that year, they were engaged.

It was a slow build to the violence

Slowly, Malcolm started revealing his true self. Their lives becoming quickly intertwined came at a cost for Amy. She was forced to delete her social media accounts, her phone use was monitored, and she could only talk to her family with his permission. Eventually, he started making demands that she prioritize him over work.

Then, the violence reportedly began. He would use heavy metal music to psychologically torment her at 6 a.m., warning her that he was about to attack her. One time, during a violent rant, she recalls him saying “Women are always trying to control my life.”

Those days were referred to as “attack mode” days in court documents. During them, Malcolm would reportedly rip up furniture, strangle Amy while taunting her, and hit her severely. The attacks left her with fractures and physical disfigurement that has since become permanent, according to medical professionals.

Furthermore, throughout the relationship, she was forbidden from seeing doctors.

He also subjected Amy to multiple sexual assaults. On one occasion, he forced her to sit on the floor and apologize to a child who had witnessed the ordeal.

Amy was numbed by the repeated abuse and started feeling trapped in the relationship. However, her family had already started noticing how she had changed. They would gently voice their concerns and tell her they did not believe Malcolm was treating her well.

Amy’s sister sent her a handwritten letter in the lead-up to the wedding saying: “If you decide at the last minute not to go through with it, get in your car and drive… my door will always be open for you.” She then added that, in good conscience, she simply could not support them in their nuptials.

Other people in Amy’s circle also reportedly used Police Scotland’s disclosure scheme for domestic abuse, known as Clare’s Law. They provided photographic evidence of threats and injuries showing the extent of the abuse.

That evidence helped Police Scotland build a case without relying on a statement from Amy. Malcolm was arrested in September 2024.

With Malcolm behind bars, Amy finally felt safe enough to give a full account of the abuse and sexual assaults. The case eventually went to trial with 56 witnesses and exposed Malcolm’s history of violence against four women dating back to 2008.

She’s moving on with her life

In July 2026, Christopher Malcolm was sentenced to 16 years in prison. He has since appealed the length of his sentence.

Amy is now focused on rebuilding her life. With professional counselling and support from organisations, she has secured a new home and vehicle and plans to start a family, free from the fear that once controlled her life.