A man assaulted his ex-girlfriend with his son in the home, and then sent private images to her mum and brother.
Christopher Crotty appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday. He was found guilty after trial of one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and two counts of disclosing private images without consent.
Thomas McLoughlin, prosecuting, told the court that on September 26, 2021, Crotty went to see his ex-partner - who the ECHO has chosen not to name - and their child, at her home address. The evening began well, with Crotty seeing his son before the baby was put to bed, and the ex-partners shared a drink.
Mr McLoughlin said: “The drink acted as a catalyst for aggressive behaviour from the defendant, and he began to accuse her of being unfaithful.” The victim went upstairs to bed, but Crotty then began to play loud music so she came back down and asked him to leave.
He continued: “She was, in no uncertain terms, frightened, and was pushed into a coffee table. As she was scrambling to get up, he punched her, causing her to bleed, and then pushed her which caused a graze to her left leg.”
Crotty continued the assault in “fits and bursts”, by punching, kicking and grabbing the hair of the victim, all while the child was in the home. After some time, Crotty left but had managed to take hold of the victim’s phone, and took it with him.
At a later date, he unlocked the phone, and found private images taken by the victim, not intended to be seen by anyone. The 35-year-old sent the images to the victim's mum and brother, alongside various insulting text messages.
Mr McLoughlin said: “Not only has the defendant abused the trust in disclosing those pictures, but has done so in a way to maximise the distress. A victim impact statement written by the victim, detailed the injuries she received and the continuing impact of the incidents.
It read: “I was made to feel weak and pathetic, he made me think he was the only one who cared for me, when in fact it was the opposite. He just used and controlled me.”
The court heard that during the trial, Crotty claimed the victim had caused the injuries to herself. He has 23 previous offences for 33 offences, four of which were offences against a person.
Anthony O’Donohoe, defending, said: “Of course this was a disgraceful incident and of course she would have suffered pain and distress but it is evident that the actual physical injuries were hard to determine. That is not to minimise the offence, but it helps to assist with the assessment of the case overall.”
Mr O’Donohoe said Crotty felt “betrayed by the images” and acted without any consideration of the consequences. He highlighted that his client was a “complex and at times challenging individual”, who has a “lack of consequential thinking abilities”.
In sentencing, District Judge Gwyn Jones detailed the victim had ended the relationship with Crotty, and he had been visiting to see their child. He said: “Things went from bad to worse, you then treated her in a way whereby you continued a pattern of controlling behaviour.
“You treated her in a way that made her feel unsafe in the home that she was residing in.” District Judge Jones read some of the victim’s testimony at trial into his sentencing remarks.
The victim had said: “I was hit from behind and I went to the ground. It was in the living room, he had hold of me from behind and hit me with his fist two or three times.”
The Judge continued: “She went on to the floor and you held her down. Not only being satisfied that you could use unlawful force upon her but you then kicked her twice to the left ribs and you then said that she made you do it, and it was her fault.”
Crotty, of Kremlin Drive, Tuebrook, was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment, and a restraining order barring him from contacting the victim or her mum was implemented.
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