A boyfriend launched a series of attacks on his then partner during their two and a half month relationship.
Jonathan Barlow subjected his victim, who the ECHO has chosen not to name, to controlling and manipulative abuse while they were dating between October and December last year.
In November last year the couple were halfway through a meal at Polidor on Lark Lane when he accused her of looking at other men.
When she started crying at the meal he threatened "I’m going to stab everyone in here if you don’t stop f***ing crying and stop making everyone look at me".
The 32-year-old then drove the car 'erratically' on the way home - and when the woman fled the vehicle at a set of lights he punched her and ran after her when she tried to get away.
When Barlow caught up with his victim he "kicked her in her head and stomach" leaving her with a swollen head, headaches and double vision.
The woman even lost her job when the 32-year-old refused to let her leave her own flat and was so scared she moved home.
Barlow appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today after admitted numerous domestic violence charges.
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Kenneth Grant, prosecuting, explained that they had been in a relationship since September 2020 but had known each other for 15 years.
Mr Grant explained that initially she thought the relationship was going "really well" but noted he had "really bad road rage" and would make "off the cuff" comments to her including “I will snap your chin in a minute”.
She said the comments didn't initially make her feel scared but after the events that took place between September 22 and December 10 last year, she was so scared she moved out of her own home.
Mr Grant said: "As well as being controlling, having a bad temper and using physical violence, the defendant’s behaviour included frequent displays of jealousy, possessiveness and suspicion."
"He accused her of seeing other men, made her delete her social media profiles from her media accounts, checked her mobile phone asking her to delete contact numbers of male friends."
The court heard he would also call the woman "s**g" and "dog" and stopped her from seeing her friends.
In an interview the woman said: "When I tried to end the relationship, or sometimes it could be for nothing, he’d hit me. It just depended what mood he was in.”
Mr Grant explained that in October last year, after he had been out with friends, Barlow went to the woman's home drunk.
He said: "Whilst she was in bed with the defendant, he grabbed her by the throat and bit the side of her forehead.
"He was screaming at her. This it seems was the first incident where the defendant used physical violence on her."
The court heard that on October 29, Barlow threw a plate at the woman and 'smacked' her on the back of the head after an argument over a song on the radio.
In another incident, in early November, the couple were getting a taxi back from Liverpool bar Liberté when he realised the victim had been speaking to the taxi driver.
Barlow asked the woman: "What were you talking about to him?” and when she knew he was "going to turn" hid in her bathroom and locked the door.
He then "kicked the door in" demanding to know who she had been speaking to and checking the call history on her mobile phone.
On November 4 last year Barlow and the woman were halfway through a meal at Polidar on Lark Lane when he accused the woman of "looking at other men and became really aggressive saying 'What are you looking at him for?'".
Mr Grant explained that when she became upset, and although she denied his accusations, we warned her "not to start with him".
Mr Grant said: "When she refused to hold his hand he said, 'I’m going to stab everyone in here if you don’t stop f***ing crying and stop making everyone look at me.'"
While on their way home Barlow was driving "in an erratic manner" while "stating he was deliberately going to crash the car".
The woman ran from the car after they had stopped at a set of traffic lights, Mr Grant told the court, but she was unsuccessful in her attempts to flag down another driver.
Barlow also got out of the car and while shouting at her the woman pleaded with him to "leave her there for a minute due to her feeling sick and suffering with anxiety".
Instead the court heard how he punched the woman to the side of her head and when she tried to run away Barlow "pursued her, shouting at her".
Mr Grant said: "When he caught up with her he kicked her in her head and stomach - resulting in swelling to her head."
Two days later the woman went to the Royal Liverpool Hospital and claimed she had "fallen and landed on her face" and was now suffering from headaches and double vision.
The court heard the victim lost her job after Barlow refused to let her go to work on December 2 telling her "you're not going to f***ing work" and smacking her on the side of her mouth before screaming in her face.
Mr Grant explained on the same day he threw an ironing board at the woman.
The next day, after the pair had been bowling, Barlow drove them to see a "mate" at one address before saying he wanted to see another friend.
Mr Grant said: "When [the victim] questioned why, he became angry and aggressive and drove away in such an erratic fashion that police officers in an unmarked police vehicle caused the defendant to stop."
An officer speaking to the woman offered to take her somewhere as she was "visibly upset" but she declined as "she could see that even while speaking with the officer defendant was watching her."
After police left, not detaining Barlow, he ordered the woman "Get in the f***ing car" and when she refused he hit her in the mouth "causing blood to pour from it" and headbutting her to the nose, giving her a black eye.
The court heard the woman then ended the relationship with Barlow but he "would not accept the relationship was over" and turned up at her home on December 10.
She refused to let him in as "she suspected that the defendant was under the influence of cocaine" and he left only to return hours later and threaten to kick the door in.
When police arrived the woman told them "during her relationship with the defendant he would often insult her causing her to feel low" and would "insist on picking her up at places" as well as "follow her to the lavatory during arguments".
In an interview the woman said: "I'm scared to be in my own house. I‘m not being dramatic."
The woman outlined another incident where "there was a pen" and he threatened: "You don’t f***ing shut up, I'm gonna stab you with this pen."
She said: "It's just, it's so bad. He just likes making me scared. I'm scared of him."
Barlow has 13 previous convictions for 30 offences including for battery, assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage.
In May 2015 he received a two-year sentence, suspended for two years, for supplying a Class A drug.
Carmel Wilde, defending, asked the judge to consider Barlow's early guilty pleas and said he "hasn't sought to put the complainant through a trial" or "play the system".
Ms Wilde said: "He wishes to express genuine remorse through me to your honour."
She added Barlow "accepts he needs some help" in "addressing multiple traumas as a child that perhaps have been a contributory factor in relation to the way he treats women".
Ms Wilde said: "He is taking steps to do that, engaging with Project Nova.
"He informs me is assisted with applying to the Army."
She said Barlow was "trying to look to the future" and "improve skills and put them to better use".
Ms Wilde said: "He clearly has a very unhealthy relationship with women."
She explained that when Barlow was 11, his father was jailed and as a result he had to care for his wife and sister, who both had been diagnosed with mental health issues and were "struggling to leave the house".
Ms Wilde said: "Some of the root cause of his offending was turning to cocaine and alcohol around the age of 13. Not long after he lost support figures in his life, his nan and grandad."
She added: "There are currently issues with relationships and women. He seemed to think that stemmed from his first relationship at 17, his ex partner had been having an affair with his best friend."
Ms Wilde explained he had insecurities in subsequent relationships, adding that it was "no excuse" for his "disgraceful" behaviour.
She also told the court Barlow suffers from "mental health issues" and "is trying to cooperate with the mental health team" but has not yet had a formal appointment, due to the pandemic.
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Ms Wilde said there is "a lot that needs to be addressed", which "resulted from turning to drink and cocaine and the like".
She highlighted that the victim did not provide a victim personal statement and "seems to have some sort of healthy relationship" with Barlow's family.
Ms Wilde explained Barlow joined the Army but in 2014 was in a wheelchair for two years and also suffered the bereavement of a cousin who was "like a brother" in a car crash.
She said his trauma didn't excuse his behaviour, but explained he wanted to address the cause of it.
Barlow, of Richard Kelly Drive, Walton, admitted engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour between September 22 and December 10 last year; five counts of common assault on October 7, October 29, November 4, December 2 and December 3; two counts of criminal damage between November 1 and November 30 and on December 2; and threatening to damage property on December 10.
Judge Rachel Smith, sentencing, said she took into account Barlow's guilty plea and the current impact of coronavirus on prisoners.
The judge said: "I accept you have suffered multiple traumas through your early life."
Judge Smith said she also accepts that Barlow has had "issues with cocaine and alcohol" adding that she realises Barlow hopes to address his issues while in custody and on his release.
Outlining the case Judge Smith said: "Essentially the complainant is someone you have known for a long time.
The judge said that it was "within a relatively short period of time" of them getting in a relationship he was "being controlling, using physical violence, accusing her of seeing other men, causing her to delete her social media profiles, checking her mobile phone and being physically and verbally abusive to her".
Judge Smith added: "She lost her job and felt she had to move house."
Barlow was today jailed for 18 months.
