An abusive boyfriend who called himself ‘Bent Eyes’ was jailed yesterday after beating his partner and threatening to slit her throat during a ‘campaign of domestic violence’ against her.
Former slaughterman Michael Maher, 31, from Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, spat in his ex-girlfriend Chelsea Gray’s face, bit her finger and dragged her to the floor by her hair during one assault.
On a separate occasion he told the mother, 33, she should say ‘goodbye’ to her children as he was going to kill her.
Miss Gray eventually fled her home to escape his violence but he broke into the property and smashed up her TV.
A court heard that he then rang her up boasting he was trampling over precious family pictures of the youngsters which she had left behind. He was arrested later.
Abusive boyfriend Michael Maher, 31, was jailed yesterday at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, for waging a ‘campaign of domestic violence’ against his ex-girlfriend Chelsea Gray
In a statement Miss Gray, from Hyde, Greater Manchester said: ‘His behaviour has messed up my mental health and I have been suffering on a daily basis. I am petrified of him and feel overwhelmed by what happened.’
At Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, the father was jailed for 40 months after he admitted common assault, harassment, burglary, criminal damage and sending malicious communications.
Maher’s ex-girlfriend Chelsea Gray, 33, said the abuse has left her ‘suffering on a daily basis’
His not guilty plea to a charge of coercive behaviour was accepted by the prosecution.
At the time of his offending he was serving a community order and had a history of domestic violence offences against a previous partner.
The court heard how Maher and Miss Gray had begun their relationship in May 2021 but it deteriorated over claims he was being controlling.
John Kennerley prosecuting said: ‘On February 8 last year, the defendant turned up at Miss Gray’s house after he had been drinking, became abusive towards her and she broke down in tears.
‘He spat at her whilst she was sat on the sofa, pulled her to the floor by her hair and kicked her on the leg. He also pulled her shirt causing it to rip and causing marks around her neck and he also bit her little finger.
‘A 999 call was made but the defendant made off when he heard police sirens on the way. Miss Gray decided to leave the address and move out because she was concerned about his violence but the following day she got an abusive phone call from the defendant.
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‘He was calling her a “s**g”. During another call he said: “I’m going to slit your throat. Say goodbye to your kids – you’re not going to see them again.”
Maher, who referred to himself as ‘Bent eyes’ was jailed for 40 months for domestic abuse including assault, harassment and malicious communications
Maher (pictured), from Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, had a history of domestic offences including assaulting a previous partner
‘He then rang her again saying she had been round to be her home and smashed a window and taken the TV and was stood on her kids’ pictures.
‘It seems the defendant had used a brick to smash the ground floor bedroom window and smashed various items in the house and ripped cushions. He later contacted her again saying he was going to slit her throat and sent her messages saying she was a “child killer” and adding: “Hope you die”.’
Maher initially denied wrongdoing. The court heard he had also threatened to ‘batter’ a close friend of Miss Gray who had been trying to help her.
Maher had 76 previous offences on his record including a 2019 breach of a non molestation order and in 2021 for common assault against a different ex-girlfriend and for damage after he threw a brick through her window.
In September 2021 he was made subject of a community order for theft and fraud.
The father, 31, was jailed yesterday at Minshull Street Crown Court for common assault, harassment, burglary, criminal damage and sending malicious communications. His not guilty plea to a charge of coercive behaviour was accepted by the prosecution.
In mitigation, defence counsel Joshua Bowker said: ‘He accepts his behaviour was unacceptable and that he ought to have behaved in a completely different manner. He accepts the relationship is over.’
But sentencing Maher, Judge Bernadette Baxter told him: ‘This was a campaign of domestic violence against your then partner. You verbally abused her, spat at her, pulled off her off the sofa by her hair, kicked her and tore her clothing and bit her little finger.
‘This was a brutal attack which if it stood alone is serious enough but you continued to make phone calls to her, threatening her with awful violence.
‘She had to vacate her home but you then deliberately targeted it so you could damage things that were precious to her.
‘I don’t accept you are genuinely sorry for all this because your behaviour in the past illustrates this is what you do. You have failed to remedy your behaviour.’
Maher was also made subject of a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting Miss Gray for ten years.
