A thug "love-bombed" his partner by showering her with gifts and even got her name tattooed on his arm before their relationship descended into shocking violence.
Jason Murphy was jailed for a vicious attack on his ex-girlfriend *Kelly (not her real name) at his home in New Ferry on May 27 this year. But his victim has spoken out about her ordeal, and described how the intense affection he bombarded her with in the early days of their relationship soured into something more sinister.
According to domestic violence charities, love-bombing refers to excessively or inappropriately showering someone with gifts, attention, compliments or affection, and can be a way of "hooking" a partner into a relationship or making them feel dependent.
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Kelly, 25, told the ECHO she met Murphy through a relative in July 2020. She said: "It was love-bombing at first. Right from the start it was very full on, he got my full name tattooed on his wrist, which I thought was very strange.
"He was love bombing me all the time, buying me loads of gifts all the time. It was very full on. But six months in he cheated on me, which was obviously horrible. We split up but he was harassing me, telling me we can make it work."
Kelly said she eventually relented and took Murphy back in February this year, only for her to catch him being unfaithful again. However, this time there was an added complication.
She said: "A few weeks later I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, and I didn't know how things were going to pan out. I went through with the pregnancy and we moved in together. I had my daughter in March, but as soon as we got the house I knew it was a mistake really."
Kelly said Murphy became increasingly abusive, and used violence towards her on a number of occasions including putting his hands over her mouth as if he was "trying to smother me". However she did not report him to police for those offences.
The couple split up again with Kelly moving out, while the baby initially stayed with Murphy. On May 27, Kelly went back to the house to see their baby daughter and bring her some clothes. Kelly said Murphy, who had been drinking, became abusive and grew particularly angry when he noticed she had recently had her nails done.
She said: "He said who do you think you are and began to call me names, a s**g, s**t, it was my fault that he's assaulting me. I tried to go over to see my daughter and he wouldn't let me. He pushed me to the floor and was standing over me hurling abuse at me whilst I was cowering from him."
Kelly said Murphy smashed up her glasses, leaving her struggling to see, and a TV. She said: "I tried to go and see my daughter again and he pinned me up against the patio doors and strangled me whilst still shouting and screaming at me.
"He started poking me in the face for no reason at all. I sat next to my daughter on the couch and he was still hurling abuse at me, and came marching over and headbutted me. I got very upset and started crying as I was feeding my daughter.
"He picked out my mobile phone that was in my jacket pocket and launched it into the kitchen where the screen smashed into pieces as well as my glasses so I couldn't call anyone for help. He also picked out my bank card from my pocket."
Murphy demanded Kelly go to the bank and withdraw money for the baby, which she did, before she was eventually able to get away from him. She reported the offence to Merseyside Police the following day and Murphy was arrested.
He was released on bail, and later subjected to a non-molestation order banning him from contacting Kelly, which he breached by sending her messages.
However Murphy later pleaded guilty to assault, criminal damage and breaching a non-molestation order at Liverpool Magistrates' Court. He was jailed for 20 weeks.
Speaking about the impact of the relationship, Kelly said: "I have concerns about ever being allowed to enjoy my life again due to his control over me and he ignored the police bail conditions and also the non molestation order so I don't feel protected as he doesn't take any notice.
"On the night the assault took place I felt totally broken, weak and a shell of my former self, he had completely broken me down over the time of our relationship, when he smashed my phone so I couldn't call anyone for help and smashed my glasses so I couldn't see I didn't even try to stop him as I knew there was no point anymore."
If you have any non-urgent information on domestic abuse – if you are a victim or believe someone you know is a victim - you can contact Merseyside Police via direct message @MerPolCC on Twitter, ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook or contact @CrimestoppersUK, anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Further support can also be found at these national agencies:
Women’s Aid | womensaid.org.uk | 0808 200 0247 (24 hours)
https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/
Refuge (includes information for men) | refuge.org.uk | 0808 200 0247 (24 hours)
National Domestic Violence helpline on 0808 200 0247 (24 hours)
The Police and Crime Commissioner’s Victim Care Merseyside service delivered jointly by two registered charities: Home: Victim Care Merseyside
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