A 36-year-old man has been jailed after abusing his partner and destroying her property.
John McCabe, of Clock Face, Merseyside, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court last Thursday, where he was sentenced to 27 months behind bars after pleading guilty to one count of engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour, two counts of assault and one count of criminal damage on the day he was due to go to trial.
The court heard that McCabe had entered into a relationship with the victim, who was 17 at the time, in November 2023, before it concluded seven months later.
The court heard that his victim had been subjected to a torrent of violent and verbal abuse. On one occasion, McCabe had threatened suicide if the victim left him, going so far as to choke himself with a phone charger.
In another attack, the victim sustaining a black eye after McCabe saw a text from an ex-partner’s family member on her phone and he violently lashed out. For weeks following the assault, McCabe pressured her to use make-up to cover the injury every time she left the house.
Incidents of coercive and controlling behaviour also occurred, with McCabe making derogatory comments about her weight and appearance, despite knowing she had struggled with these issues.
Even after their relationship ended, McCabe bombarded her with text and video messages, begging to take her back and claiming she was causing him mental anguish by not answering his calls.
It was also heard in June 2024, that the couple had been involved in a heated argument at home, which resulted in McCabe throwing a lighter at the victim, which bruised her.
Whilst out on a dog walk, the victim received a call from her neighbour, informing her that McCabe was destroying things in her flat, including her TV, in a violent rage.
Everything came to a head in July 2024 when, after a short break in their relationship, the pair were in bed following an argument, when McCabe climbed on top of her and put both hands around her neck, began to strangle her – shouting “I am going to kill you”.
The victim finally found the courage to call Cheshire Police officers after McCabe had repeatedly tried to contact her over the phone to no avail and then turned up outside her home, repeatedly banged on her windows and calling her derogatory names.
Whilst officers were there, she disclosed the full extent of abuse she’d suffered, which eventually led to his arrest.
John McCabe was jailed for two years and three months (27 months) at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday 16 January 2025 after he plead guilty on the day he was to go to trial, due to the overwhelming amount of evidence against him.
Police constable Leanne Rigby said: “No one should be living in fear when going about their day-to-day lives, especially when that someone who is causing that fear is someone who is meant to be someone you trust to care for you – I can only imagine the torment she faced at the cruel hands of John McCabe.
“McCabe is a violent perpetrator, whose manipulative behaviour left his victim feeling worthless and that there was no way out. Whilst no sentence will ever be able to make the victim forget what happened to her, hopefully with McCabe serving in excess of two years behind bars and with ongoing management upon his release, she can begin to move on with her life.
“I would like to commend her bravery throughout this entire investigation, without her courage we would have not been able to secure this conviction. Let today’s sentencing be a reminder that Cheshire Constabulary takes all offences of this nature and domestic abuse extremely seriously. Any allegation will be thoroughly investigated, with the needs of the victim always being our main priority.”
If you, or someone you know, is a victim of domestic abuse, it can be reported here: www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us.
