A woman allowed a paedophile to stay at her home following his release from prison, only for him to beat her black and blue three days later.
Derek Wiswall formed a relationship with his victim while he was behind bars. But when the 33-year-old was freed from custody and went to reside with her, he spat at her and punched her to the floor - falsely believing that she was having an affar.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that he and Abigail Cowell met in February this year, and she would send him money "on the basis that he would pay her back upon his release". Ben Berkson, prosecuting, described how Wiswall moved into her home in Widnes "while he was looking for accommodation" when he was released on licence on May 17.
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But on May 20, the defendant discovered that she had been messaging another man on Facebook and incorrectly believed she was having an affair with him. He responded by repeatedly spitting at her, pushing her around the flat and punching her in the face - causing her to fall to the floor crying.
Wiswall, of no fixed address but from Runcorn, then called her a "fat s**g" and was told her "she deserved everything she got". Ms Cowell tried to call a friend whom she hoped to leave and stay with, but her abuser grabbed and snapped her phone then punched and damaged her laptop when she tried to reach out using that device.
The complainant suffered a "swollen black eye" during this initial assault, but did stay at the address that night. Wiswall, who appeared via video link to HMP Altcourse, "continued to accuse her of infidelity" the next morning however.
She went to buy him beer from shop, and upon her return he threatened to kill himself with a broken shard of a glass bottle then punched her in the face and damaged television sets in the living room and bedroom by thumping them. Ms Cowell managed to escape and sought help from a neighbour, after which the police were called.
The events had a "long-standing impact" upon her. In a statement which was read out to the court on her behalf, she described having been "left very scared" - and also had to move back in with her mum.
Wiswall has three previous convictions for eight offences, being jailed for seven months in October 2020 for possession of indecent images. In February 2022, he received 18 weeks for failing to comply with notification requirements as part of this sentence.
The thug committed his latest crimes while out on licence. Martyn Walsh, defending, said: "He does offer his remorse to the victim and asks that the court accepts that as genuine."
Wiswall admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage and was locked up for 16 months on Wednesday. He was also handed a restraining order preventing him from contacting Ms Cowell for five years and was told to pay a victim surcharge.
Sentencing, Recorder Eric Lamb described his attack as a "prolonged and persistent assault" which "involved a breach of the trust which should exist between partners in an intimate relationship" - adding: "This took place in the complainant's home She now feels unsafe and scared.
"I have reached the conclusion that in the circumstances of this case, in which you were on licence for just three days before the commission of the offence against a person who had given you accommodation to which you were released, only a sentence of immediate custody can provide adequate punishment. I do not consider that the prospect of rehabilitation outweighs or outbalances that fact."
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