A man launched a brutal attack on his ex-girlfriend while she was holding their one year old baby, a court has heard.
Dean Oakley, 33, of Methuen Street, Liverpool, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday to be sentenced after attacking his ex-girlfriend and hurting their one-year-old child. Frank Dillon, prosecuting explained that Oakley and the victim, who the ECHO has chosen not to name, had been in a relationship for eight years but when she found out she was pregnant, she ended the relationship.
On December 31, 2022, after a period of separation, the victim was at her home when the defendant turned up and an argument ensued during which Oakley verbally abused her and took her house keys. Mr Dillon said: “This incident was not reported but because further visits by the defendant were possible, she went to her mother's home address and stayed until Monday January 2, 2023.”
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At around 3am, the victim brought her one-year-old daughter home because she was not settling due to teething. She entered her home holding her daughter, but soon heard footsteps coming from upstairs.
Mr Dillon said: “While the victim was holding the child, the defendant ran down the stairs, jumped over the baby gate and grabbed her by the throat. “He shouted ‘you are a s**g, you are s***ging everything, I’m going to f***ing kill you’.”
He added: “The victim was obviously vulnerable because of the presence of a small child in her arms.” The victim managed to put the baby down but the attack continued as Oakley dragged her across the floor by her hair, so much so that clumps of hair came out.
She attempted to get Oakley off her, and he bit her hand leaving cuts, before grabbing at her face causing another cut to her nose that bled. The victim managed to briefly escape Oakley, who was under the influence of cocaine and alcohol, to call the police.
However, she only managed to give the police her address before Oakley dragged the victim to the ground and smashed the phone so severely it bent out of shape. Oakley continued to grab the victim by the throat and hurl abuse at her, before she picked up their child in an attempt to escape.
With the child in her arms again, Oakley tried to drag the victim across the room causing the one year old baby to bang her head on the bannister. The baby cried at this, and Oakley stopped his assault and instead began to hit himself repeatedly with a frying pan.
Police arrived at the property after responding to the abandoned 999 call, and Oakley begged the victim not to open the door. The father-of-one has a long history of violent offences, including a racially/religiously aggravated assault in 2016, assault on an emergency worker in 2019, and actual bodily harm in 2021 for an offence involving a taxi driver.
He appeared on Tuesday for assaulting a person thereby causing actual bodily harm, criminal damage to property under £5,000, and assault by beating. John Rowan, defending, said his client feels remorse for his actions, and his main problem is alcohol misuse.
He said: “He has been able to express his remorse and his disgust in himself for his behaviour on that occasion. “What makes it more serious is the presence of his own daughter, his only child.”
“Two people that he was meant to protect, to care for, two people that he understands should have been safe around him”. Mr Rowan said Oakley knew this was “his rock bottom”, and hoped he would still have a relationship with his daughter once he was released.
He said: “Upon his release, if he wants any sort of relationship, any sort of bond with his daughter, then he is going to have to demonstrate the motivation to deal with his alcohol use and to deal with the emotional issues underpinning this offending behaviour and the demons in his life. “He has had a long hard look at himself, he is sober in custody.”
In sentencing, Judge Denis Watson, said: “She barely managed to put the baby down before you dragged her round by the hair. “She was desperate to call the police, and ran to get her phone, only for you to chase after her smash phone up.
“This is an extended incident and it is quite obvious you were entirely out of control. He added: “I accept there is a degree of remorse, you have some insight when you are sober into the harm that you do.”
He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and an indefinite restraining order banning Oakley from contacting the victim or visiting her address was implemented, and all child contact must be organised through social services.
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