A Scots domestic abuser who blagged a job as a jailer in an American prison has now enlisted with the US Army. Andrew Parr, from Hawick, landed a post at a prison in Bremer County, Iowa, after moving to the US.
He was sacked from the sheriff’s department after being exposed by the Daily Record as a serial domestic abuser. Now he has managed to join a branch of the US Army and was videoed taking an “Oath of Enlistment”.
Parr attacked his former wife in 2013 when he threw a shoe at her, poured beer over her and struggled violently with her. He was convicted of threatening and abusive behaviour with a domestic abuse aggravation.
He also has a conviction from 2017 for domestic assault offences. Last night a former partner of the Scot said she cannot believe he has managed to enlist in the National Guard after starting a new life in the US.
She said: “It beggars belief that despite his convictions in Scotland, the US National Guard allowed him to sign up. Granted it’s not a full-time job but he will get paid for training and in any emergency he’ll be expected to help.
“American standards and checks have clearly fallen.” The National Guard is a branch of the US military mostly deployed around their own communities responding to domestic emergencies but can also be called up to serve on overseas missions.
Parr, 36, is understood to be an IRR – individual ready reserve – and won’t train with a unit but can be called up in the event of an emergency. Earlier this year the Record revealed Parr, also known as Drew Gillespie, secured the £31,500 prison job in the US.
But he had failed to disclose two convictions – including the 2017 case of domestic abuse. The US National Guard has been contacted for comment.
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