Man facing 'significant' jail sentence for five-years of abuse

Steven Manson repeatedly assaulted a woman, regularly kicked her into a small confined space and refused to let her out, repeatedly threatened to kill her and coerced her to tell lies regarding his actions to family, friends and police officers.

And when the woman was pregnant, Manson wrapped a charging cable so tightly around the woman’s neck she was unable to breathe or speak, believing Manson “intended to strangle her until she died.” 

After he carried out the vicious attack, Manson spat on the woman’s face, walked away and asked her “what they were having for dinner that evening.”

Paisley Sheriff Court heard how the 29-year-old struck the woman’s head against an internal wall “so forcefully that it caused a large hole in the wall.” 

A joiner had to be called to repair it and Manson made the woman lie about what had happened. 

Manson, described as a prisoner of Low Moss Prison, Bishopbriggs, sat emotionless in the dock as the court heard of his vile behaviour. 

The procurator fiscal depute explained how, in April 2020, at a property in Renfrewshire, the couple had an argument which she recorded on her phone. 

Manson “tackled” the woman who was “heavily pregnant” and took her phone from her. 

He then took a hammer and screwdriver and smashed the phone. 

The woman was “distraught” as this resulted in the loss of “memories” such as photographs and videos during her pregnancy, showing her bump growing and moving, as well as scan photographs. 

The court heard tragically how the woman was “so used to Manson abusing her and injuring her but was terrified for the safety of her unborn child.” 

In 2021, Manson struck the woman’s head with  a child’s plastic table before calling her a “f*****g cow and a f*****g s**g.” 

In November 2024, the couple got into an argument while lying in bed regarding an ex-partner.

The town’s court heard how the woman tried to leave the bedroom when out-of-control Manson “threw her against a set of drawers and then seized her by the neck, pushing her to the floor.”

Manson grabbed the woman by the hair and pulled her into a seated position on the floor before grabbing her by the leg and “dragged” her from the bedroom into the hall, "causing her head to strike the door frame.” 

Manson then “dragged” the woman down the stairs, causing her head to repeatedly strike the stairs.”

Manson, who abused drugs and alcohol, then grabbed his partner “by the neck with both hands and squeezed her neck forcibly,” digging his hands into her windpipe while shouting repeatedly, ‘keep going, you’re nearly dead, keep going, keep going, you’re nearly dead.’ 

The woman “believed she was going to die and that Manson was trying to kill her” describing his face as having “the most evil look” and that he was “staring right through her.” 

Following this horrific assault, Manson got on top of the woman and “pressed the blade of a pair of scissors to her neck while punching her repeatedly to her head.”

Manson, who threatened to “stab f**k out” of the woman, threatened he would kill her and her child, would make threats to commit suicide after arguments and even sent pictures of how he intended to do so.

Manson’s defence counsel stated this is a “very serious charge” and that what “must be apparent” is the problems Manson has. 

He invited the court to call for reports.

Sheriff Brian Moran, stated: “I’m going to order reports to give me some background here. 

“A significant custodial sentence is most likely here.” 

Manson was remanded in custody and will return to court for sentencing next month.