Shane Anthony Gray to be sentenced for dissuading a witness

A man who told a woman to drop a rape charge has had his criminal history revealed in court, which include stealing guitars from a church while drunk.

A man who was acquitted of rape after telling police he paid the woman for sex rang her days after and told her to drop the charges, a court heard.

Shane Anthony Gray will learn his fate next month, while also being re-sentenced for breaching a good behaviour bond for breaking into a church and stealing guitars.

A victim impact statement was read to the District Court on Friday by prosecutor Laura Brown.

The court heard Gray’s offending had caused the victim severe anxiety, particularly in relation to answering phone calls and going out in public.

“The constant fear of him being everywhere I turn … as a result I find myself isolating at home,” she said.

Shane Anthony Gray pleaded guilty to dissuading a witness. Picture: Facebook

The court heard the victim’s quality of life had been affected and led to feelings of helplessness and depression.

During the trial, Mr Gray, 23, claimed the sexual intercourse with the alleged victim in the alleyway next to the Dog and Duck nightclub on Hindley St was consensual.

Prosecutors had argued that Gray met the alleged victim in the early hours of the morning at the Dog and Duck in the Adelaide CBD in April 2022.

The court heard Gray and the woman had consensual sex in the disabled toilet before they were evicted from the venue.

The jury heard Gray then took the woman around the corner of an alcove near the TAFE car park and had sex with her again, which the woman said she didn’t consent to.

In a video played to the court of Gray’s arrest shown by a body worn camera, he told the officer the woman had agreed to have sex with him for money.

Gray then argued he had only had sex with the woman until she told him to stop.

The woman was at home a few days later when she received a call from a no caller ID number, with Gray telling her to drop the charges.

Gray pleaded guilty to dissuading a witness.

The court heard he breached a good behaviour bond with the new offending after being sentenced in April 2021 for serious criminal trespass and theft.

Gray broke into a church and stole a number of guitars and other items, telling media outside court he was drunk and “didn’t remember anything” after being released on bail.

Shane Gray was arrested by police with the stolen haul.

Shane Gray told media outside court he didn’t remember anything after being released on bail for the theft.

On Friday, Scott Jelbert for Gray, told the court his client was stressed after being charged with rape, which led to him calling the victim.

“He believed that he did done nothing wrong, he couldn’t believe that he would have thus allegation levelled against him,” he said.

Gray, who has spent eight months in custody, will be sentenced next month.