Suspended sentence for controlling boyfriend who attacked and tracked girlfriend

A young Latchford man was so controlling over his girlfriend that he even wet her shoes to prevent her going out.

Josh Jones also tracked her movements via her phone, damaged her property, including expensive Moncler clothing and an X-box and threatened to kill himself if she ended their relationship.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Jones’ then-partner told her mum about his behaviour and in July 2023, by which time the couple had a five week old child, her mum contacted the police out of fear of what he would do.
David Watson, prosecuting, said that on July 3 Jones pushed his partner during a row into a broken door causing bruising and scratches to her back. As they continued to argue he hit her about four times and kicked her while she was on the floor.
On July 16 he hit her to the back of the head with a half-closed fist and put both hands around her neck squeezing slightly, warning her to shut up. The next day he kicked her in the back.
He cut himself with a 25cm knife and called her “dirty” and “ugly”, which was witnessed by her mum, said Mr Watson.
Her mum described him as “behaving like a child and having a paddy.”
Mr Watson said that his controlling behaviour included hitting her head to avoid visible bruising, not allowing her to go out to see her mum and he tracked her when she went out via her phone.
He damaged three mobiles and a laptop and would threaten to take his life and also damaged her car.
“On March 21, 2023 they stayed at the Adelphi in Liverpool and he gave her a black eye and broke her phone to prevent her talking to anyone and broke his own phone,” said Mr Watson.
When he was arrested he claimed his partner drank heavily and had slapped him in the past. He claimed, “she falls over a lot.”

Jones, now 20, pleaded guilty to two assaults causing actual bodily harm and controlling and coercive behaviour between September 2022 and July 18, 2023.
The defendant, who has previous convictions, was assisted in the dock by an intermediary.
Simeon Evans, defending, said that Jones, of Hollies Court, Westy Lane, Latchford, would benefit from probation assistance. “He is capable of behaving himself and not getting into trouble.”
He is no longer using cannabis or alcohol and training hard at a gym, he added.
Judge Louise Brandon sentenced him to 16 months detention suspended for 18 months and ordered him to carry out 30 days rehabilitation activities. She also imposed a 12 month Mental Health Treatment requirement.
She said that the impact of his behaviour on his former partner was “serious and substantial. She ended up on medication because of what you did to her. Fortunately she has moved away from you.”
The judge said she accepted he has diagnoses of autism, ASHD and a history of self-harm and is unable to control his emotions. “You still have a lot of growing up to do.”
She said that Jones has been working with his key worker and would be assisted by a mental health treatment order. She imposed a ten year restraining order to keep away from his victim.