'I played dead to make it stop - I thought I was going to die'

Daily Record

5 hours ago

Peter Melia began a relationship with his victim in July 2021 but it quickly deteriorated into a cycle of abuse and control. He has now been jailed.
A woman who suffered a brutal assault at the hands of her "monster" ex-boyfriend has issued a chilling warning that "his next victim might not be so lucky". Peter Melia's violent streak was triggered when his girlfriend refused to engage in humiliating sexual acts and protested against her vaping, which led to a terrifying cycle of domestic abuse.
During one particularly vicious attack, the terrified mother felt compelled to 'play dead' in fear for her life. She now experiences panic attacks "every time she sees a white BMW", the aftermath of his offences leaving her "shaking" with her "heart pounding" after an unexpected encounter with her attacker in a pub.
Liverpool Crown Court was informed on Wednesday, June 25, about how Melia, 40, started a relationship with the woman in July 2021, which soon devolved into a pattern of "abuse and control on the part of the defendant".
Prosecutor Ken Grant detailed how Melia, from Poplars Avenue in Orford, Warrington, coerced her into changing her social media profile picture to include him, dictated her clothing choices, and "isolated her from her friends" by insisting she was "only allowed to go out with him".
Furthermore, Melia demanded access to her home's CCTV footage and forbade her from communicating with the father of her children, reports the Manchester Evening News.
In one incident around Christmas 2022, he reportedly asked her to perform an indecent act during sex. When she declined, he allegedly struck her in the face with the back of his hand, causing her to fall into a fireplace, before grabbing one of her children's toys and "smashing it to pieces".
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Another assault occurred on holiday when Melia made a similar request. After being refused again, he is said to have punched her in the face.
During another trip abroad, this time to Poland, he reportedly became upset when his partner liked a friend's picture on Facebook. This resulted in him "backhanding her to the face and jabbing her in the stomach".
Then, on 7 January 2024, a row broke out after Melia"discovered she had been vaping", something he was "very much against". Upon returning from a night out, he allegedly "jumped on her", grabbed her by the throat and punched her in the side of the face, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Later, after she had labelled him a monster for his actions, he is said to have "again jumped on her", placed his knees on her chest and started strangling her. Melia was also accused of attempting to bite her nose during this attack.
In a harrowing statement read to the court, the victim recounted how one brutal assault by Melia resulted in her losing clumps of hair, stating: "Psychologically, this has had a huge impact on me. I felt like I wasn't able to do anything. I felt like I had to run everything past him and get his permission for things such as wanting to go and see my friends and family or when I wanted a night out.
"I felt like I wasn't able to be me. I completely lost who I was, because I was always in fear of the consequences if I didn't do what he wanted me to. I had to play dead in the hope that he would stop '.
She continued to detail the ongoing anxiety and terror of encountering Melia, revealing the ordeal has caused her hair to fall out. Recalling a particularly distressing episode where she saw him at a pub, she said it made her feel "sick" and compelled her to leave immediately.
The victim further described the devastating effect of Melia's abuse, saying: "The last time he assaulted me, I genuinely believed I was going to die. I had to play dead in the hope that he would stop. Luckily for me, he did. But his next victim might not be so lucky."
Since ending the relationship, she has been striving to piece her life back together with her children but admits that Melia's influence "still affects me". She recounted a chilling moment when she thought she saw his white BMW while in her car.
Upon seeing the smoke, her immediate reaction was to inhale it and drop her vape in panic, thinking it was him. The sight of a white BMW still triggers panic attacks for her, she added.
Melia's criminal history reveals four previous convictions dating back to 2002, including a total of 31 months imprisonment in 2017 for offences of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and making threats to kill against a different former partner.
Jim Smith, defending, read out a letter written by his client to the court, stating: "I'm writing this letter to apologise and to express my sincere remorse.
"I'm disgusted by my behaviour and utterly ashamed of myself. I know there are no words and no apology can take back what happened, but I want you to know I'm truly sorry to her, her family and friends. Nobody should have to go through anything like that, ever. I hope and pray that she finds peace and heals."
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Melia continued to say "It was the biggest mistake" of his life, and that he had let his family and children down. He outlined the changes he has made in his life, including giving up alcohol, and engaging in meditation, yoga and sound baths, while surrounding himself "with more positive influences".
He also shared his childhood experience of witnessing his father's violence towards his mother, and pledged not to return to drinking alcohol, while expressing his desire for his own children to be proud of him.
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He added: "I will forever by ashamed and embarrassed. I've turned my life around and plan to be a better father, son and person in general."
During the proceedings, Melia appeared emotional, at times wiping away tears. In his statement, he detailed how the experience of his father's drunken violence profoundly affected him.
Throughout the course of the hearing, Melia could be seen shedding tears. Mr Smith drew attention to Melia's efforts to amend his ways, stating: "Your honour will see the better side to the defendant and the qualities that he does possess. He is somebody who is respected and valued within his family. He is in full time employment. He has always worked and always been industrious. He is starting on that long road to recovery."
Melia pleaded guilty to engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and intentional strangulation. Upon receiving a sentencing of two-and-a-half years imprisonment and a five-year restraining order, he acknowledged the judge with a nod and a courteous "thank you".
In passing sentence, Recorder Louis Browne KC addressed the effects of Melia's actions, stating: "Whatever the position might be now, it is quite clear that these offences have had a lasting effect on your former partner. She describes you behaving in a violent and bullying way, which is completely unacceptable. I very much hope that, after your release, you will continue to behave as you have described in your letter and that you will learn from this experience and not behave in this way again."