A DOMESTIC abuser who tried to murder his estranged wife by driving over her twice has been jailed.
William Budge also admitted subjecting wife Sandra to a campaign of abuse when he appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh on 6 January 2025.
The 62-year-old plead guilty to three charges including assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement, danger of life and attempted murder.
The court heard Budge launched the final attack on 14 April 2024 – three weeks after Sandra had ended their 33-year marriage.
He parked his car outside his former partner’s Edinburgh home before making attempts to speak to her when she returned to the property
Budge then grabbed hold of Sandra and attempted to force her into his car as well as trying to take her mobile phone.
A member of the public arrived during the disturbance and called the victim’s phone.
When the call was answered, she heard Sandra say, “give me my phone Billy” and “stop Billy”.
The witness then got out of her vehicle and stood next to the victim on a pathway next to the road.
Budge got back into his car and drove onto the grass verge, straight at Sandra, lifting her onto the bonnet before she fell onto the ground.
The wheels of the car went over the victim as Budge drove back onto the road.
Sandra was thus left lying motionless on the grass when the accused turned his car around and drove back over his former wife again.
The witness who was attempting to help had to jump out of the way to avoid being struck.
The emergency services were called as Budge drove off. His car was later found parked unattended at an Asda car park in Dunfermline, Fife.
On 15 April 2024, police in Glasgow were alerted to a man in the River Clyde. After being rescued, he was identified as being William Budge and arrested.
Budge’s former wife suffered numerous serious injuries which were described as “life-threatening”.
On 5 February 2025, at the High Court in Edinburgh, Budge was jailed for seven years and four months.
A non-harassment order, banning Budge from contacting or attempting to contact his former partner, was granted for a period of 15 years.
Moira Orr, who leads on homicide and major crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “William Budge is a violent and cruel domestic abuser whose extremely reckless actions could have had devastating consequences.
“Our thoughts and best wishes remain with his former partner as she continues to deal with the lasting trauma caused by this barbaric individual.
“Budge has now been held accountable following this prosecution, which I hope brings some comfort to those affected by his offending.
“COPFS remains committed to prosecuting crimes of domestic abuse, which are an unacceptable blight on our communities.
“I would encourage all victims or witnesses of similar offending to come forward, report their experiences and seek support.”?
In a statement via lawyers Digby Brown though, Sandra said: “I believe this sentencing does not encourage other women to come forward with cases of domestic abuse.
“As a society we have repeatedly heard that violence against women will not be tolerated yet this low sentence flies in the face of that sentiment.
“The outcome today also does not inspire trust or confidence in the justice system especially to those who have experienced domestic violence, or are still trapped in dangerous domestic circumstances.”
Sandra’s immediate family stood in solidarity with the Edinburgh mum.
After the sentencing, the family added: “Scotland is in an epidemic with violence against women and the family was hopeful today that the punishment would reflect the crime.
“Unfortunately we have a contradicting message being sent by the judge which was even more discouraging by the fact he was fully aware of the historical domestic abuse throughout the marriage.
“We feel the accused only pleaded guilty due to the overwhelming evidence and for his own benefit to receive a lesser sentence – not through any sense of remorse.
“We have all been through 10 months of hell and the only person who has really benefited from all of this has been the guilty man who saw multiple discounts applied to his sentence.
“We really hoped today would deliver justice and contribute to our journey as we seek closure – but this has not happened.”
