A violent maniac caught on camera battering his partner sued his victim – to get his hands on the couch he attacked her on.
Christopher Forrest set upon former partner Elizabeth Shanks at her home during a three-year-campaign of domestic abuse.
Ex-delivery driver Forrest, 41, was jailed for 27 months last year after his horrific violence left Elizabeth mentally and physically scarred.
But in a sick twist, Forrest launched a civil court action from behind bars to seize the sofa and a TV he claims belonged to him.
His traumatised ex-partner, who has been left with crippling anxiety and suffering panic attacks, said it was just another move by Forrest to “control and manipulate” her, despite the judge imposing a 10-year harassment order when he was sentenced.
Elizabeth said she was stunned when she received notice she was being taken to the small claims court. She said: “I thought after the court case I would be able to just move on with my life and try to put it all behind me.
“Then the claim was lodged at Hamilton Sheriff Court stating he was wanting the television and sofa from the house because he said they belonged to him. I had to engage a solicitor to deal with it. I couldn’t believe it. It’s just another form of control and was designed to cause me maximum stress.”
Elizabeth told how the case was heard in March. But the judge threw out his claim, worth over £2500, and demanded Forrest pay her legal fees.
Forrest previously pled guilty to assaulting Elizabeth to her injury and danger of life on three occasions at her home in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, between July 2017 and August 2020.
Some of his attacks were caught on a “doggy cam” used for dog-watching when the house was empty. In her victim impact statement, Elizabeth told how, on one occasion, demented Forrest forced bank notes into her mouth as punishment for asking him for money.
In one clip she can be heard gasping for breath as he chokes her, raging: “You’re going to die.” In other footage she was violently thrown against a car as he hurled abuse at her.
She added: “There is no remorse, no accountability and no common sense. The video of him attacking me on that sofa was seen by thousands and yet he had the brass neck to try and come after me for it.”
Elizabeth also told how she and her neighbours have received poison pen letters alleging she is a liar – despite the footage and pictures of thug Forrest attacking her being widely viewed at the time of her court case.
Now, she says, she continues to live in fear that Forrest will pursue her on his release from prison. She said: “I’ve had to install security cameras and I’m fearful for my safety, especially when he is likely to be released in October this year.
“It’s a nightmare that seems never ending, but I’m still glad I spoke out about him. Domestic abusers should never be allowed to win and intimidate their victims.”
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