Thug who abused pregnant partner jailed amid jeers of "grass" towards victim from public gallery

Yahoo

17-02-2025

A Liverpool man has been jailed after subjecting his partner to repeated assaults, attacking her during her pregnancy and punching her within hours of her giving birth to his child.
Neil Jones, of Saltergate Road, Dingle, had been with his victim for around two years, inflicting shocking abuse on her that continued throughout her pregnancy. He then proceeded to stalk her from a fake Facebook account after their relationship ended, the Liverpool Echo reported.
Today (February 17) pleading guilty to coercive and controlling behaviour, stalking and making threats to kill, Jones' supporters at Liverpool Crown Court shouted "grass" at the victim who sat in tears as she made a witness statement.
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Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Monday, that the pair's relationship "changed" after he lost his job in November 2022.
The 28-year-old first turned violent on December 4 that year after the couple began arguing over her speaking to another man while they were attending the Christmas markets in Liverpool city centre.
Shannon Stewart, prosecuting, described how this saw him drag the complainant down a side street before kicking and punching her. The victim was able to run away but was tracked down by Jones after being refused entry to a taxi.
They then walked together to his family home, where he began strangling her and armed himself with a knife. When she sought refuge inside a bathroom, the defendant began banging on the locked door while threatening: "I'll kill you."
Jones was then said to have behaved violently towards his victim during arguments throughout their relationship, including by punching her to the head and kicking and pinching her. On one occasion, on December 5 2023, he was also said to have bitten her in the face.
Then, on January 5 last year, he grabbed and pushed her before punching her on the arm. His victim discovered that she was pregnant with his child a matter of days later.
But Jones continued to attack her in spite of this, including leaving her with a black eye after punching her to the face on April 26. He again hit her in the side of the head on May 29, causing a cut to her ear.
His supporters in the public gallery were issued with a warning by Recorder David Knifton KC at this stage after one woman was heard remarking "you're a grass". Ms Stewart then continued to document the episodes of violence suffering by an expectant victim, including being strangled during assaults.
Then, after she had given birth to their son on September 22, Jones "became aggressive" towards a nurse. A short time later, he then punched the mum in the face while the new born baby lay in a cot beside her.
His victim then ended the relationship in December 2024, although Jones continued to "constantly" message her and call her from withheld numbers. He was also said to have created a Facebook account under the name "Bobby Firmino", a reference to the former Liverpool FC forward, which he used to contact her and "ask where she was".
In one phone call, he threatened to "get someone to rape her", "come to her house with a knife and kill her" and "rape her and rip her throat out". Jones reportedly attempted to call her around 400 times over the period of Christmas and New Year before he was arrested on January 5.
She told the court in a statement from the witness box: "My mental health has deteriorated significantly because of the ongoing abuse. I was too scared to leave him because of the constant threats I received.
"I stopped seeing family and friends out of fear that something would happen to them. Since the abuse, I feel as if I'm constantly walking on eggshells and riddled with anxiety. I've received multiple messages calling me names and telling me 'snitches get stitches'. I'm not a grass."
Two women then left court, with one heard to remark "grass" as she did so while [the victim] sat in tears. Jones has three previous convictions for six offences, including possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, with his last brush with the law seeing him handed a community order for dangerous driving in 2016.
Olivia Belle, defending, said on his behalf: "He has accepted full responsibility for his actions. To his nearest and dearest, this offending has come as quite a massive shock to them.
"He has no violence on his record and has stayed out of trouble for most of his life. He is a hard working man. He has always enjoyed labouring. Prior to his remand, he worked with machinery and on windmills.
"He volunteered with Old Swan Youth Club and helped to provide food for children in the community. He is known as being dependable and well liked. He was involved in a road traffic accident last year. He fractured his skull and is now partially deaf.
"Mr Jones wishes to offer an apology to her. He has presented as emotional and offers his deepest regret for his actions. He wishes for a better life upon release, devoting time to his son and becoming a father."
Jones admitted engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour, stalking involving fear of violence and making threats to kill. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a grey Berghaus tracksuit top, he was jailed for 30 months and handed a 10-year restraining order.
Sentencing, Recorder Knifton said: "The background to this offending follows an all too familiar pattern. Initially, it appears to have been a happy and normal relationship. Unfortunately, it turned sour.
"You became controlling and coercive towards her, preventing her from using social media and restricting her use of her mobile phone. More seriously, your behaviour developed into violent incidents towards her extending over a period of two years. Many of the assaults occurred during a period when was was pregnant with your child.
"She finally decided to end the relationship. You thereafter constantly messaged, called or attempted to contact her over social media despite being told that she wanted nothing to do with you.
"You made vile and abusive threats towards her, including threats to rape her and kill her with a knife. I have listened to a recording of that call. Your conduct is utterly despicable.
"Despite her fear of repercussions, she had the courage to report matters to the police. She became scared to leave her address. She feared for the safety of her friends and family and isolated herself from them.
"She describes herself as having changed from being an outgoing, confident and bubbly person to one who is scared and riddled with anxiety. That is the legacy of your conduct towards her.
"I bear in mind that you have no convictions since 2016, when you were 19 years of age. I note that you have an offer of employment with a demolition company when you are eventually released from custody.
"I have read a helpful letter from your parents. They explain that you have struggled to contain your emotions due to untreated ADHD. They say that you have a good heart and a strong desire to make positive changes in your life. That material clearly presents a different side to you to that which you showed towards Olivia."
A physical confrontation between two women then ensued on the landing outside the courtroom following the hearing. Screaming and shouting was heard as they were separated from the scuffle before the victim and her supporters were escorted away by security staff.