Violent thug who terrorised mum and kids in "abhorrent" domestic abuse jailed

23 February 2024 , 18:30

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Vile abuser Grant Shanks was jailed for seven years for what the judge called his abhorrent and loathesome crimes

An abusive monster who left a woman living in hell with a routine of frequent brutal attacks and sickening degrading behaviour has been caged for seven years.

Thug Grant Shanks threatened to get Irish terrorists to firebomb the home of a mother and her three kids, a court heard.

Shanks will remain on licence for two years following his release from custody and he was told his name would remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. His abusive behaviour was described as abhorrent and loathsome by Judge Lady Poole, who backdated the custodial sentence to January 6, when she first remanded Shanks in custody.

Shanks also had non-harassment orders imposed on him by the judge, banning him from approaching or contacting his victims for 25 years. He was told he was barred from contacting the children of the second woman until they reached the age of 16.

Shanks, 34, from East Calder, West Lothian, was found guilty by a jury of four “abhorrent” domestic abuse offences and pleaded guilty to a further charge of disclosing an intimate image of one of his victims on December 24 2021.

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Shanks, 34, from East Calder, West Lothian, was found guilty by a jury of four “abhorrent” domestic abuse offences

The High Court in Livingston convicted him of frightening and intimidating both former partners by telling them he was a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force. He threatened to abduct and kill the children of a mother-of-three and told her he would get members of the banned terrorist organisation to firebomb her home.

Two unanimous verdicts were returned by the jury, finding him guilty of stalking the women between 2012 and 2021 and a majority verdict convicting him of engaging in a course of abusive behaviour against the mother.

Livingston High Court, Livingston town centre, West Lothian (Alamy Stock Photo)

Giving evidence in his own defence, Shanks admitted headbutting the mum but claimed she had attacked him first and no knife had been involved.

He admitted he had a serious gambling problem but insisted the sexual allegation and claims he had been violent, threatening and abusive towards the two women were all lies.

Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week for free, confidential specialist support. Or visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk to fill in a webform and request a safe time to be contacted or to access live chat (live chat available 3pm-10pm, Monday to Friday). For support with tech abuse visit refugetechsafety.org

Vic Rodrick