Man beat pregnant woman
Face of the thug jailed for four years after putting woman through ordeal
A “sadistic” thug has been jailed for attacks on a heavilypregnant woman. Liam Poole, 26, beat and abused the woman to such an extent that a crown court judge said it was akin to “waging a war” on her.
York Crown Court heard that the victim, who was 22 weeks’ pregnant, was kneed in the face and stomach as she triedto protect her unborn baby during the “cruel and callous” attacks at her home.
Over several hours on the night of August 19 and into the early hours of the following morning, drunken Poole repeatedly taunted and psychologically manipulated the woman into believing he had calmed down, only to “snap back” into ferocious violence.
Prosecutor Austin Newman said Poole flew into a rage during an argument.
When the woman threatened to leave, Poole warned her that he would harm her pet cats.
He then ordered her to go to the shop to buy him some beer.
“The victim complied with that and when she returned he consumed all 12 cans, in the process becoming very drunk and aggressive,” said Mr Newman.
When the victim said she was going to spend the night at her mother’s house, Poole threw a pint glass at her.
She drove off in her car to seek refuge at a friend’s house, but when she returned at 2am the following morning, Poole grabbed the driver’s door as she was getting out and forced it back on its hinges, breaking the door.
She tried to walk away, but Poole threatened to put a brick through her window if she didn’t go inside the house.
Once inside, Poole dragged her into the bedroom and rained blows down on her.
He then pulled her hair and told her: ‘I’m going to kill you tonight.”
“He then orders her to remove her clothes before taunting her about her appearance and kneeing her in the stomach,” said Mr Newman.
She finally managed to escape at about 6am and went to a public payphone to call the police.
But Poole followed her to the booth, grabbed the phone and screamed: “I’ll burn the house down.”
“He then punched her in the face and ran away,” added Mr Newman.
The victim suffered a black eye and “appalling” bruising and grazes all over her body.
Poole, of Columbus Ravine, appeared for sentence on Friday after admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm, making a threat to kill, and three counts of criminal damage or threatening to damage property.
Defence barrister Eleanor Fry said Poole accepted the violence was “horrific”.
Poole was jailed for four years and given a restraining order. £10 PRIZE WINNERS 022509 062219 086317 071115 062915 029341 031153 086755 022281 063397 030699 006921 047857 011779 020965 082835 011515 051651 049831 074433 045029 006187 011317 022623 080377 088119 033439 049863 080911 045997 052617 040670 028089 028081 067953 037851 001829 020755 030435 006218 057659 016849 041045 001075 067553 042113 040731 038923 058359 007067