A THUG who battered a woman during a four- decade campaign of abuse has been locked up for five years.

John Graham subjected his victim to a brutal ordeal - including hitting her in time to music.

The 55-year-old bully had such a hold over the woman, she was not allowed to go out on her own.

Graham brought about his own downfall by calling police about another matter - and it was then his victim decided to tell officers about her suffering.

Graham was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow after being convicted of what judge Bill Dunlop earlier described as "wholly horrific tale" of violence.

The judge yesterday told him: "You may not be a broken man, but the lady who told the main story in this case is a broken woman.

"She was broken by 30 years of cruelty, domination and control at your hands."

Graham showed little emotion as he was lead handcuffed to the cells.

The abuse occurred between July 1974 and October 2004.

The woman and her two young daughters often stayed with Graham at his home in Barrhead, Renfrewshire.

A trial heard how Graham regularly unleashed his violent temper on the woman, now aged 56.

A jury was told how she was "hit, punched and kicked" by a drunken Graham.

The victim's youngest girl recalled hearing her mum crying along with yells of "John, stop it."

Prosecutor Sheena Fraser said: "Her mum was also heard being slapped in time to the music."

staf.lach@eveningtimes.co.uk