Former boxer wore horror mask and clutched machete while 'terrorising' woman

A former boxer was spotted wearing a horror mask and clutching a machete amid a campaign of “intimate terror.”

Ryan McNicol, 42, preyed upon a woman in Parkhead area between December 2019 and July 2023.

McNicol hurled abusive names towards his victim and restricted her from using the kitchen by attaching a lock to the door.

McNicol was also seen by a neighbour at midnight with a Jason from ‘Friday the 13th’ mask on his face while he roamed his living room.

He later told a court that he wore the mask after a child in the property was up having “nightmares” and wanted to make him laugh.

First offender McNicol was convicted at Glasgow Sheriff Court of engaging in a course of abusive behaviour.

He separately pled guilty by breaching a bail condition by contacting the woman after his initial release from custody.

The offences began three years after McNicol’s last of his 48 recorded fights.

The court heard that McNicol was verbally abusive to the woman.

He made remarks such as: “I found you in the gutter and I will put you back in the gutter.”

McNicol also called her “fat”, “scum”, “no one wanted her or cared for her” and “no one would love her.”

She told the court in her evidence that she did not call the police as she believed that McNicol would kill her.

She also stated that she was assaulted by McNicol after she lost £30 from her purse.

The witness further claimed that after the alleged beating, he told her “Know your place.”

However, accusations of physical attacks on her were deleted by the jury during their verdict.

A neighbour spoke about seeing McNicol through a window of the night of July 18, 2023.

Prosecutor Darren Harty said in his closing speech to jurors: “He saw McNicol in a red top with a ‘Jason’ mask on holding a machete over his right shoulder.”

McNicol was quizzed about the mask which he claimed he bought from Argos for Halloween then left it in a box.

He stated that he put it on as a child in the property was “up with nightmares.”

Mr Harty asked: “You were wearing a mask because a child had nightmares or terrors so you put on a scary mask, is that your position?”

McNicol replied: “Yes.”

When police arrived at McNicol’s home, the woman was described as in “obvious distress.”

Officers spoke about the number of locks on the doors.

It was also discovered that some of the windows had covers on them which prevented anyone from looking in but people could see out.

Mr Harty stated in his speech: “The behaviour I have referred to is also known as intimate terrorism.

“When you take a step back and look at McNicol’s behaviour towards the woman dispassionately, you will well understand why it’s called that.

“The explanation of why he was wearing the mask in the house around midnight was to try and make a young child who was having nightmares laugh is utterly ridiculous.

“During the course of this trial, the mask he presents to the public and to this court has been truly lifted and the true nature and character of Ryan McNicol has been exposed.”

Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month by Sheriff Joan Kerr who granted McNicol bail meantime.