Woman left in wheelchair after breaking her spine when ex-partner pushed her over banister

A man gave his former partner a ‘life sentence’ after he pushed her over a banister and broke her spine as she refused to kiss him.

Barry Shankly, 45, pounced on the woman on New Year’s Day 2021 at a property in Glasgow’s Bridgeton.

Shankly was enraged after she refused to kiss him after their relationship had ended.

Shankly shoved his former partner which caused a devastating spinal injury which has left her in a wheelchair.

He later convinced the woman, who had lost her memory, that she had fell over by herself.

However, the stricken victim went to the police to report the matter after she regained her memory.

Shankly was found guilty of engaging in a course of conduct which was abusive of his partner or ex-partner between September 2019 and May 2021.

Judge Kevin McCallum KC imposed a 14-year extended sentence with 13 years being spent behind bars.

A non-harassment order was also imposed at the High Court in Glasgow which prohibits Shankly’s contact with his victim.

The judge stated that Shankly, of the city’s Dalmarnock, was a “jealous, deceitful and controlling” person who has an “inability to control his temper.”

He added: “The most serious conduct extended to the day when having rebuffed to kiss you and said the relationship was ‘not like that’, you pushed her causing her to fall over a banister and broke her spine.

“The injuries and consequences as a result of your actions are appallingly serious.

“You rendered her paralysed with a life long disabilities and ongoing medical conditions.

“Your victim was in her thirties, worked extensively, was adventurous and went about making friends.

“You have sentenced her to a life sentence in a wheelchair.”

The hearing was told that Shankly went on to remain in contact with the woman while she was in hospital.

The victim has “no memory” of what happened and was “fed a false account” by Shankly that she had fell over.

Shankly meantime sent his former partner unwanted items, gifts and money.

The judge stated that this was done to “avoid detection for a dreadful act.”

The woman’s memory later returned and she contacted the police.

It was earlier revealed that Shankly kept tabs on the woman during their relationship and alienated her from loved ones.

Shankly initially attacked her at the property by dragging her from a bed, demanded she leave and repeatedly punched her head.

The woman was also a victim at the hands of Shankly while on holiday in Lisbon when he pushed her on the body which caused her to fall and strike her head.

Charles Ferguson, defending, told the sentencing that his client maintains his innocence.