29-04-2025
Survivor abused by monster ex on CCTV blasts plea deals carried out without victims' consent
The 36-year-old firefighter is part of a group of seven campaigners calling for more rights for victims
JUSTICE PLEA Survivor abused by monster ex on CCTV blasts plea deals carried out without victims' consent
A FIREFIGHTER strangled by her monster ex on CCTV has blasted plea deals carried out without victims' consent.
Liz Shanks had been repeatedly battered by Chris Forrest who was later jailed for 27 months when he admitted a number of assaults over a three-year span.
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Brave Liz Shanks speaking on a BBC Disclosure documentary last year.
Credit: BBC
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Monster Christopher Forrest attacks Liz Shanks in an assault caught on camera
Credit: Facebook
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Forrest pictured outside his home as he awaited sentencing in 2022.
Credit: Alan MacGregor Ewing
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Forrest was caged for subjecting Liz Shanks to a terrifying ordeal of violence.
Credit: Facebook
The fiend pleaded guilty to a number of charges but had others dropped as part of a plea deal - including one nasty incident caught on camera.
Liz only discovered the arrangement - common practice in criminal court cases - after the agreement had been settled by The Crown and Forrest's legal team.
Recalling the phone call from prosecutors, she added: 'I said: 'Where was my say in this plea deal? Why wasn't I told or given a say?'
'I was devastated. I was left frustrated. Disbelief. And I struggled to get the information as to what particular attacks he'd pled guilty to.
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'Much to my disappointment there was one in particular that had supporting CCTV which he got off with.'
The 36-year-old firefighter is part of a group of seven campaigners calling for more rights for victims going through the justice process.
She featured last year in a BBC Disclosure documentary in which she shared horrifying details of Forrest's relentless abuse.
She and other survivors are calling on the Scottish Government to make changes to the in the new Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, with the backing of Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay.
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He said: 'We're not against the use of plea deals but we think it's a basic requirement that there should be transparency around their use, and that victims should be given a full explanation as to when they're used, why they're used and the terms that are reached.'
Mum-to-be Liz, of Blantyre, Lanarkshire, has also been working with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to develop policy and training around the issue.
CCTV footage shows the moment a maniac snarled 'you're going to die in my hands' as he throttled his terrified ex
She added: 'I know from what I went through that you're so low, you don't believe that something as good as that could happen to you.
'But life is so much better. And if I can take something negative and make it into something positive and help other people, it makes me feel better about what's happened to me.'
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The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service say plea deals avoid the need for a trial and the stress of witnesses having to give evidence.
A spokesperson said it was 'committed to listening to victims whilst working with partners across the criminal justice system in the continual improvement of the communication process'.
We told in 2022 how chilling CCTV footage showed the moment Forrest snarled, 'You're going to die in my hands' as he throttled his terrified ex.
Sheriff Linda Nicolson bailed him before sentencing at Hamilton Sheriff Court.
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When approached by The Scottish Sun, the shameless thug said: 'I don't deny it but if you push somebody, that's it.
'From day one I told my solicitor I would plead guilty to three things and that's what's happened.'
