Formby pensioner beaten unconscious by gay lover he met on dating website

The 73-year-old was attacked by Frank Shannon in April

A Formby pensioner was beaten to the point of unconsciousness by a gay lover he met on an online dating website.

The photo above is a screenshot of the gay personals on Vivastreet.

The 73-year-old victim was dragged to the floor, punched, tied up with a telephone cord and choked to unconsciousness by Frank Shannon, 30, after they had sex at his home in Formby.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how the pensioner came round to find Shannon, of Ashwood Close, Kirkby, loading his car with his belongings and then demanding the keys.

Judge David Aubrey, QC, warned Shannon that he could face an extended jail sentence for what was termed “an explosion of inexplicable violence”.

The court heard that the victim frequently used dating sites to meet men and began to exchange messages with Shannon on the website Vivastreet.

He invited Shannon to stay over at his home in Formby in April and picked him up from a McDonalds in Kirkby.

Chris Hopkins, prosecuting, said: “This was a disturbing, bizarre incident where there’s an element of inexplicable behaviour on the part of the defendant on what ought to have been a quite normal and pleasant evening.”

The court heard how the men watched television, had dinner and drinks before engaging in sexual activity.

Shannon then went outside for a cigarette before launching his furious attack.

Mr Hopkins said: “The defendant pounced on him and dragged him to the floor.

“He asked what on Earth was going on to which the defendant said ‘I will kill you’ before punching him.

“He was forced to the floor with the defendant lying on top of him. The defendant put his arm around his neck and exerted pressure on his neck, changing hands a couple of times.

“On one occasion he lost consciousness.

“The defendant then told him to put his arms behind his back and pulled the telephone cable away from the wall and tied his hands.”

Shannon loaded the car with televisions, a sound system and a microwave before demanding the keys. The victim persuaded his attacker to untie the cord so he could get them, before alerting a neighbour.

Shannon then fled the scene on foot - but was later caught through his fingerprints.

In a victim statement read in court the pensioner told how the ordeal had deeply scarred him.

He said: “The incident has robbed me of my confidence, peace and safety in my own home. I no longer meet people online and do not speak to anyone I don’t already know.”

Shannon, who has a history of domestic violence, claimed he could not recall what happened because of drink.

Patrick McLoughlin, defending, admitted: “It has been a horrific event for him, one which will stay with him for the rest of his days.

“It has had a very profound effect on him.”

Judge Aubrey adjourned passing sentence and ordered a psychiatric report. He said he was considering classing Shannon as ‘dangerous’, which could potentially see him handed an extended, or even life, sentence.

He said he considering the possibility that Shannon trawled the gay dating site to target his vulnerable victim.

Shannon, who admitted robbery, was remanded in custody until July 27.

Story and Photo Source: Southport Visiter