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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Amy Walker & Ryan Merrifield

Thug screamed 'I'll chop you up' at baby shower before battering girlfriend

An abusive boyfriend screamed "I'll chop you up" during an outburst at a baby shower before battering his partner.

Stephen Pearson had been in a relationship with the unnamed woman for 25 years and had been violent throughout.

On one occasion, the 41-year-old hit his girlfriend so hard over the head with a broomstick it broke.

During another incident he threatened to "chop" someone up before driving his car at a group of people outside a pub.

His partner was seen to be trying to get out of the vehicle but Pearson grabbed her and punched her several times.

Pearson, from Sale, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty to offences of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, dangerous driving and affray Minshull Street Crown Court.

Pearson was sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court (MEN Media)

He was jailed for three years and three months, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Prosecutor Craig MacGregor said police received a call in the early hours of April 21 to reports that Pearson was hitting his girlfriend.

An officer knocked on the door for 30 seconds before she appeared at the window, looking distressed.

She told them: “He’s taken the keys and ran out the back, I can’t open the doors.”

The officer ran back to his car and drove around the block, finding Pearson at the rear of the house.

The woman later told the police that they had been at home watching boxing and drinking. Matters escalated when she went to the shop and he became aggressive.

Pearson had been in a relationship with the unnamed woman for 25 years and had been violent throughout (stock image) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The prosecutor described how Pearson pulled the woman's hair, punched her in the face and the back of the head and broke a broomstick over her head.

He added that she had tried to escape but Pearson had chased her down and locked the doors.

He was arrested and bailed not to contact the woman and not go within 100 metres of her house.

However, on June 26, at the Gardener’s Arms in Timperley, both Pearson and the woman attended a baby shower.

Captured on CCTV, Pearson was seen to push a different woman before leaving the pub, stating that he was going to "get a machete".

Minutes later he came back with his hand in his jacket shouting: “I’m gonna chop you up, I’ll chop you up.”

He then got into his car and began driving at people who were standing outside the pub. After picking up his partner and driving away, he was seen by a witness chasing his partner as she tried to flee.

“He started banging the woman against the car whilst shouting at her before she went to the ground," said Mr MacGregor.

"The witness then sees Pearson punching her repeatedly, around six to eight times."

She managed to get free and ran to a nearby pub where police were called.

She told officers that Pearson has always been violent - and it had become the norm.

In a statement to the police, she said she "knows this has to end but he always finds a way back into the house".

Mr MacGregor read: “Pearson is obsessed with her and she is worried what will happen next. She no longer feels safe in his presence – especially when he is drunk."

The woman was left with injuries including two black eyes, clumps of hair missing and lumps to her face.

Police later attended at the woman’s address where Pearson’s car was on the drive. He threatened: “Do you want to be stabbed?”

Firearms officers and dog handlers attended, and after two and a half hours, he was finally arrested after officers found him hiding in the loft.

Pearson was said to have 20 previous convictions for 34 offences.

Defending, Constance Halliwell said Pearson accepted his behaviour was ‘appalling’ and regrets what happened.

She added that he suffered from blackouts and memory loss following a previous incident where he was assaulted.

“There is a lapse of control over his behaviour and he was using alcohol as an escape and coping mechanism,” Ms Halliwell said.

Sentencing, Recorder Neil Usher said: “It’s accepted when you are sober you appear to have control over your behaviour. Your problem is when you are not sober and you continue to have this behaviour time and time again.

“Your record is appalling. This court considers you a high risk of serious harm to females, unless you overcome your problem with drink and loss of self control.”

Pearson, of Goodwood Avenue, was jailed for 39 months. He was also banned from driving for 31 months.

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