CONNOR MCMANUS SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC ABUSE IN FIFE AND MONTROSE

Connor McManus, a 32-year-old man from Fife, has been convicted of a series of serious crimes involving sexual assault, domestic abuse, and coercive control against two women in Fife and Dundee, following a comprehensive seven-day trial at the High Court in Stirling. The jury, composed of five men and ten women, found McManus guilty on nine separate charges that spanned from 2013 to late 2021, highlighting a disturbing pattern of violence and manipulation over nearly a decade.

One of the victims, a woman from Dundee, testified that McManus had raped her at her home and repeatedly doused her with water while she was sleeping. The court also heard evidence that he engaged in coercive financial abuse, which included using her bank cards without permission, taking out loans in her name, and booking holidays on her account without her consent. Additionally, McManus threatened to remove her infant daughter from her care, adding a layer of psychological torment to his physical and financial abuse.

The second victim, a woman from Fife, recounted a violent assault where McManus physically attacked her by biting her, grabbing her by the throat, and tearing her clothing. The court further established that he continued to exert financial control over her, demanding large sums of money repeatedly. McManus was also convicted of two counts of rape against this woman, emphasizing the severity of his crimes.

Earlier in his criminal history, between 2013 and 2017, McManus faced charges related to threatening and abusive behavior towards a third woman in Angus. Evidence presented during the trial detailed a pattern of repeated shouting, insults, property damage, and demands for cash, all while refusing to contribute to household expenses. The court also heard that he attempted to isolate her from her friends and family, and was responsible for causing her to fall down a flight of stairs, further illustrating his pattern of violence and coercion.

Some charges were dropped during the proceedings, including allegations that McManus forced one victim to perform sexual acts for others in exchange for money, and accusations related to cannabis supply. Additionally, claims that he neglected three children by forcing them to inhale cannabis smoke and assaulted two of them were also withdrawn by the prosecution.

Following his conviction, McManus remains in custody and has been placed on the sex offenders register. His sentencing is scheduled to take place at the Edinburgh court next month. On May 9, 2025, the High Court in Edinburgh, presided over by Lord Harrower, imposed a 12-year extended sentence, comprising nine years of imprisonment with an additional three-year extension period. The court also issued a non-harassment order, prohibiting McManus from contacting, approaching, or communicating with the victims, either directly or indirectly, indefinitely.

Lord Harrower detailed the court’s findings, emphasizing the pattern of coercive and controlling behavior that spanned several years and involved three different women. He noted that McManus’s offenses included assault, rape, sexual assault, and threats, often involving abuse of his partners during their pregnancies. The judge acknowledged McManus’s prior convictions for dishonesty, vandalism, threatening behavior, and a sexual assault on a child, as well as his adverse childhood experiences, which may have influenced his actions.

In his sentencing remarks, Lord Harrower highlighted the serious and lasting impact of McManus’s crimes on his victims, noting that they may never fully recover from the trauma inflicted. The court assessed McManus as presenting a high risk of re-offending, particularly of a sexual nature, and therefore justified the extended sentence to protect the public. The total sentence, backdated to April 10, 2025, when he was remanded in custody, will see him serve nine years in prison, followed by a three-year extension period under license conditions. If he breaches these conditions, he risks being recalled to custody. The court also ordered that McManus be subject to indefinite notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.