Fugitive had threatened to stab and slash his ex-partner
AFUGITIVE woman beater dived off a boat into the canal in Burscough in a futile attempt to swim away from police.
Gary Stanley had previously threatened to skin his ex-girlfriend alive, before punching and biting the young mum in a cowardly attack.
The 31-year-old was also wanted for offences ranging from cocaine dealing and knife crime to burglary and having a phone in prison.
Police launched appeals to track down Stanley, of Kingsland Road, Norris Green, earlier this year.
Liverpool Crown Court heard he was finally located on the Leeds and Liverpool canal, in Burscough, on June 17.
Zillah Williams, prosecuting, said: “He was on a boat on the canal - upon seeing officers he jumped into the canal to escape, but was apprehended by the police.”
Stanley admitted being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine, possessing a knife and two counts of possessing cannabis, relating to crimes in the North East.
The crook fled when police spotted him at a car park in Durham at around 8pm, on November 10, 2016.
He was caught while trying to climb over some railings and said: “I think I dropped a knife as I ran.”
Stanley was found to have a 12in hunting knife, plus a Kinder Egg containing 11.4g of cannabis resin and 2.66g of cannabis skunk, valued at £80.
Police searched an address linked to him in Houghton-le-Spring and found 95.2g of 75% pure crack cocaine, valued at up to £6,000, in a freezer bag bearing his DNA, hidden in a sock.
At the time he was on licence, having been jailed for six years and one month in 2014 for plots involving a gang who burgled rival drug dealers to steal and sell their cannabis.
As a result he was recalled to prison and on April 16 last year was being held in a single cell at HMP Altcourse.
A guard looked through the observation panel at around 7.30pm and saw him asleep on a bunk, while “holding a white iPhone in his hand”.
It was seized by officers and police attended the jail on May 21 last year, but he refused to be interviewed.
After being released, Stanley began a relationship with Chloe Rossiter in July.
Ms Williams said by November it “turned sour” and he became jealous of her talking to other men.
She dumped Stanley, who made threats to her and her family, who in turn contacted police, but Miss Rossiter
didn’t wish to support a prosecution.
In January the relationship resumed “on and off ”, until she decided to end it permanently on May 5, but he continued to contact her.
Ms Williams said: “Messages included threats to “cut her throat”, and “skin her alive”. Miss Rossiter was extremely fearful and took the messages seriously.”
On May 8 he rang Miss Rossiter and told her to meet him at an address in Antonio Street, Bootle, which she did, out of fear.
Ms Williams said: “He grabbed her by the hair and dragged her around. He punched her to the left side of the ribs, causing bruising.
“He bit her on the shoulder, leaving a mark, and threatened her if she called the police, so she didn’t.”
On May 10, after receiving texts threatening to trash her Crosby home, she returned and found her sofa was ripped and two TVs damaged, at a cost of around £650, which led to a family member contacting police.
She then received more than 80 calls and messages from Stanley, in which he threatened to burn down her mother’s house and cut her sister’s head off.
Over the weekend of May 30 she received countless ‘no ID’ calls and during two, Stanley threatened to stab and slash her.
On June 1, he stood outside a friend’s house and shouted that he knew she was there, but left before police arrived.
Stanley also phoned her mum, Cheryl Rossiter, and left a voicemail saying he was “not a***d if he gets shot by armed police, your daughter’s not getting away with this, you just need to call me, you stupid c***”.
Miss Rossiter said she suffered panic attacks and was prescribed medication.
The victim also had to leave her children with their dad because she was worried about their safety.
Stanley struck at Namit Cash Store and Post Office, in Stopgate Lane, Bootle, in the early hours of December 27.
The owner was alerted by an alarm and arrived at 7.30am to find an intruder had repeatedly tried to break in, causing £600 of damage, having gained access to an empty flat above the shop via a bathroom window.
The victim said he increased security and suffered sleepless nights.
Stanley’s DNA was found in blood on a window tile, but he was not arrested until he was caught at the canal, when he had three bags of cannabis.
He admitted harassment with violence, criminal damage, burglary, possessing a prohibited item in prison, and possessing cannabis.
Stanley’s 14 previous convictions for 40 offences include multiple burglaries and assaults.
In 2007 he was locked up for 20 months for possessing explosives, burglary and aggravated burglary.
Julian Nutter, defending, asked Judge Garrett Byrne to consider the principle of “totality” and to pass an overall sentence which was proportionate.
Stanley grinned when handed an indefinite restraining order to protect the victim and her mum.
Jailed for five years in total, he gave the judge a thumbs up and replied: “Thank you for that sir.”