THOMAS HANNAH FROM NAIRN ESCAPES PRISON IN SHOCKING COURT DECISION

In a recent legal case that has stirred considerable public and personal outrage, Thomas Hannah, a 55-year-old man residing on Sutors Avenue in Nairn, was found guilty of a series of serious criminal offences spanning nearly three decades. The verdict was delivered at Inverness Sheriff Court, where a jury convicted him of multiple charges related to domestic abuse, sexual offences, and violent assaults committed over a period from 1991 to 2020.

Despite the gravity of his crimes, Hannah was not sentenced to imprisonment. Instead, Sheriff Gary Aitken ordered him to complete 280 hours of unpaid community service, placed him under social work supervision, and mandated his registration on the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of three years. Additionally, Hannah was subjected to a three-year non-harassment order designed to protect his victims from further contact or intimidation.

The court also imposed conditions requiring him to participate in programs aimed at addressing domestic abuse and alcohol misuse. He was explicitly barred from having any unsupervised contact with girls under the age of 17 unless approved by his supervising officer, who also has authority over his living arrangements.

Hannah’s criminal record includes a disturbing array of offences. These include assaulting his former wife on multiple occasions, with incidents involving head strikes and neck grabs occurring between May 6, 1991, and May 28, 2020. He was also convicted of heinous sexual offences involving minors, including lewd practices on a girl under 16 on New Year’s Day in 2000, and a sexual assault on a girl under 13 between December 31, 2016, and January 4, 2017. One particularly violent incident on May 6, 1995, saw him severely injure and disfigure another woman by hitting her with a bottle.

Other convictions include a breach of the peace in late 1992, during which he destroyed property in Nairn by smashing windows and damaging a kitchen. His pattern of disorderly conduct also involved shouting, swearing, and furniture damage over many years, actions that created an environment of fear and alarm for those living in the affected properties.

Following the court’s decision, the victim, who now resides in the Inverness area, has spoken out publicly about her harrowing experiences. She described enduring a decade of physical and mental abuse at Hannah’s hands, which she says led to her losing contact with her family because they refused to visit her due to his actions. She revealed that she has children and felt trapped, unable to escape her situation for many years.

Her ordeal culminated in a suicide attempt after her divorce from Hannah, an event she describes as her lowest point, feeling that he had taken everything from her. Despite these hardships, she has managed to rebuild her life gradually. Her journey to justice began four years ago when police contacted her regarding investigations into allegations against Hannah. She recounted that the process was prolonged, hindered by multiple court cancellations and delays caused by the COVID-19 lockdowns.

While she expressed relief at the guilty verdicts, she also voiced disappointment and frustration over the leniency of the sentence handed down. Her story underscores the ongoing struggles faced by victims of domestic abuse and the complex challenges involved in seeking justice in such cases.