Ex-girlfriends of stalker jailed for terrorising woman say he could've been stopped - if only police had listened to them

Two former girlfriends of an film director who was jailed for a vile stalking campaign say he could have been stopped if police had taken them seriously.

Charlotte Burns, 25, and Steph Basnett, 23, claim they were subjected to terrifying harassment after ending their respective relationships with Riagain Grainger.

The 22-year-old, who has worked with Hollywood A-listers, was jailed last week after terrorising a woman he met whilst studying at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2019.

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But Charlotte and Steph, both former students of the University of Salford, say if they had been listened to by police, the woman he went on to abuse may have been spared.

Both women claim they were 'silenced' by Greater Manchester Police, who did not arrest or charge Grainger for any alleged offences relating to them.

Approached by the M.E.N, a senior GMP officer apologised to the women, saying 'we let them down'.

Steph, who was 19 at the time, says her ordeal began after Grainger refused to come to terms with the end of their three-year relationship in the summer of 2018.

"When I broke up with him, he got really possessive and was threatening to slit his wrists," she said, speaking to the Manchester Evening News.

"He started bombarding me with phone calls and texts saying I love you, I miss you."

Steph says she received threats from Grainger that he would 'kill himself' if she didn't get back together with him.

"I was living in a student flat overlooking the river and he threatened to jump in the river," she said.

"He was trying to guilt trip me into getting back with him.

"I felt really scared he was going to hurt himself and I felt guilty for ending it. But I knew