News Beat
I woke up on New Year’s Day paralysed after my abusive ex broke my spine when I refused to kiss him at midnight
NEW Year’s Eve is filled with excitement over the possibilities of the year ahead and for Janine Kazmi it was a night she will never forget.
Rather than waking up on January 1st with a hangover, Janine woke-up paralysed after her abusive ex inflicted life-changing injuries on her.
Barry Shankly, 45, left Janine, 38, disabled after he pushed her over a bannister and broke her spine – because she refused to give him a ‘New Year’s kiss’.
After becoming ‘enraged’, Shankly shoved Janine over the balcony in the hallway of his house in Dalmarnock, Scotland, causing the devastating spinal injury.
Janine woke-up with two fractured vertebrae and Shankly went on to convince her that she’d fallen by “accident” after she temporarily lost her memory.
But on regaining her memories, Janine reported Shankly to the police after he had also subjected her to months of “controlling and violent behaviour” in the lead up to the injury.
Shankly was found guilty of engaging in a course of conduct which was abusive of his partner or ex-partner at Glasgow High Court in July 2024 and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Janine is a full-time wheelchair user and she is a strong advocate for disability rights after finding herself “stuck” in inaccessible housing while waiting for adaptations to her council property in South-End-on-Sea, Essex.
Janine, a peer support worker, says: “I’ll never walk again and I’m not able to have kids due to my injury.
“Not only did he take away my life, but he stopped another one from happening.
“I never imagined my life this way, but you’ve got to put in the work – mentally and physically.”
Janine met Shankly on a dating site in October 2016, while she was living and working in Thailand.
The pair began a long-distance relationship, until Shankly invited Janine to move into his flat in Glasgow, Scotland, in September 2019.
But Janine said she began experiencing increasing “controlling” behaviour from Shankly.
She says: “He checked my phone and locked me in the flat.
“I wasn’t allowed friends – he isolated me from everyone.”
Things escalated during a trip to Lisbon, Portugal, in January 2020, when Shankly “stamped on her mobile” and “pushed” her over – causing her to fall and hit her head.
She says: “It was meant to be a happy time, but I was pushed, pulled, threatened.
“He promised it wouldn’t happen again, and I fell for his lies.”
In October 2020 Janine decided to end things and claims she “reluctantly” remained friends with Shankly.
In December 2020, he invited her to spend New Year’s Eve with him and attempted to kiss her on the stairs of his house as they left.
She recalls: “I didn’t really want to be friends, but it was easier than dealing with him unhappy.
“That night, I told him our relationship wasn’t like that anymore and he pushed me.
“On impact apparently, I was coherent – it must have been the shock and adrenaline.
“But I lost consciousness and woke up in hospital with no memory of the fall.”
Janine was admitted to Glasgow Royal Infirmary and underwent surgery on her spine on January 6, 2021.
She was dealt another blow when doctors told her she had fractured her spine between the 23rd and 25th vertebrae and would be left paraplegic.
She says: “I was on my own when I got the news.
“I was devastated – my life changed in an instant.”
Barry visited Janine in hospital and “fed” her “lies” about the fall.
But Janine began to regain her memory of the night and gave a statement to the police.
I was devastated – my life changed in an instant
Janine Kazmi
She says: “He said I was sitting on the bannister on the phone when I fell off.
“But my memory started coming back and I knew there was no phone call.
“He was telling people different things and it didn’t add up.”
Janine was eventually transferred to The London Spinal Cord Injury Centre, Stanmore, London, for rehabilitation.
Shankly was arrested and pleaded not guilty to engaging in a course of conduct which was abusive of his partner or ex-partner between September 2019 and May 2021.
The case went to High Court, Glasgow, in July 2024 and Janine joined via video link from Southend Court, Basildon, London, to give her evidence.
Barry Shankly was found guilty of the charges and jailed for a 14-year extended sentence with 13 years being spent behind bars.
Janine went on to spend two years living in temporary housing between 2021-2023 that was ‘inaccessible’ while waiting for a permanent property.
She eventually got her own council property, but claims it took a further two years for adjustments to be made before moving in.
She says: “I had to pursue them to get it sorted.
Domestic abuse – how to get help
DOMESTIC abuse can affect anyone – including men – and does not always involve physical violence.
Here are some signs that you could be in an abusive relationship:
- Emotional abuse – Including being belittled, blamed for the abuse – gaslighting – being isolated from family and friends, having no control over your finances, what you where and who you speak to
- Threats and intimidation – Some partners might threaten to kill or hurt you, destroy your belongings, stalk or harass you
- Physical abuse – This can range from slapping or hitting to being shoved over, choked or bitten.
- Sexual abuse – Being touched in a way you do not want to be touched, hurt during sex, pressured into sex or forced to have sex when you do not consent.
If any of the above apply to you or a friend, you can call these numbers:
Remember, you are not alone.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic abuse over the course of their lifetime.
Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for help relating to domestic abuse.
“I didn’t have a suitable bathroom or kitchen for years.
“It was so degrading – he’s in prison but at least he had access to a toilet.”
Janine is now hoping to help other survivors of domestic abuse by encouraging people to “speak out”.
She adds: “If anyone asks me about my disability, I tell them what happened.
“I’m not ashamed – it’s important to spread awareness.
“Suicide rates in people with spinal injuries is high.
“If you don’t see improvements in the first five years, it’s unlikely you ever will.
“That’s too hard for some people to get their head around.
“It’s bloody hard, but there is life after a spinal injury.”
Cllr Anne Jones, cabinet member for Housing and communities, said: “We are committed to supporting residents with disabilities and ensuring they have access to housing that meets their needs. We understand how important it is for homes to be safe, accessible, and suitable for everyday living.
“For privacy reasons, we are unable to comment on individual cases. However, all adaptations and adjustments are carried out in line with legal requirements, and we continue to review our processes to improve the experience for all residents.”
