THE detective who led investigations into the vile abuse carried out by Helensburgh man Ben Slee has praised the monster's victims for coming forward.

DCI Graham Cordner was speaking after Slee received a six-year jail sentence – and a lifelong restriction order – for a catalogue of horrific crimes carried out against six women between 2002 and 2015.

Slee was found guilty last September of raping one victim, attempting to rape another and carrying out a terrifying catalogue of physical and psychological abuse.

DCI Cordner said: “The despicable actions of Ben Slee saw women experience a catalogue of sexual and physical abuse over a number of years.

“The fact that these women had the strength and courage to come forward and speak to police officers is testament to their bravery.

“Their witness statements going back a number of years were crucial to our investigation and greatly assisted us in the gathering of evidence.

"I hope that the fact he is now behind bars will give these women some closure and the strength to move forward with their lives.

"Police Scotland takes allegations of sexual assault and domestic abuse very seriously and will investigate all reports thoroughly whilst working with our partners to provide support. "

Slee's vicious campaign of terror included assaults on two of his victims while they were pregnant.

He hit one on the head with a heavy glass ashtray, squeezed the neck of one victim until she lost consciousness, spat in the face of another and stamped on her bare feet while wearing heavy boots.

Slee, of Maitland Court, held the head of one of his victims under the water while she was having a bath, and threatened to pour acid in another victim's face or to petrol bomb her parents' home and car if she reported him to the police.

In total he was found guilty of 29 charges of domestic abuse, carried out at addresses in Helensburgh, Garelochhead, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Sentencing him on June 6, judge Lord Beckett told Slee he had shown “no insight and no remorse” for his crimes.

Clinical psychologist Dr John Marshall told the sentencing hearing that Slee had shown “an extraordinary level of denial even about minor matters” and said Slee posed a high risk of committing further sexual violence in future.