A violent and controlling bully kicked and stamped on his girlfriend's head, then spent money on her bank card as she lay bleeding on the floor. Connor Dillon left his victim in fear of her life during the horrific spell of abuse, in which he repeatedly berated her - and manipulated her 'emotionally, physically and mentally'.
The 24-year-old has now been jailed after pleading guilty to actual bodily harm; controlling or coercive behaviour; and criminal damage. Manchester Crown Court heard the attack took place at 9am on July 17, last year, after Dillon flew into a rage.
He slapped her across the face three times, before repeatedly kicking and stamping on her head as she lay 'curled up in a ball' on the floor. When the victim tried to use her mobile phone to call for help, he threw it across the room, causing it to smash.
With the victim bleeding on the floor from a wound above her eye, Dillon, of Mythorn Walk, Newton Heath, then took her bank card and left the house. He later spent £29.25 on the card.
In a statement the victim said Dillon had 'bullied me, mentally, physically and emotionally'. She added: "He has ruined my life and changed me as a person. I am scared of what he may do next. I worry one day he may end up killing me."
The court heard Dillon had 25 previous conviction for 49 offences, including assault and battery on a previous partner. Nicola Carroll, defending, said Dillon was 'genuinely remorseful' and asked the judge to impose a suspended prison sentence so that he could get help from the probation service.
She added: "This young man has come from the care system. He has been in the system all his life.
"He appreciates he must be punished. In fact his response was 'I have done the crime, so I must do the crime'.
"But we may take the view that society is better served by getting this young man into a position where he can become a fully functioning member of society. We are now in a position to do something proactive to break the pattern."
Dillon was sentenced to 30 months in prison and given a five year restraining order.
Judge Stephen Davies said: "What is clear is that you regularly over an 18 month period physically, mentally and emotionally abused your then partner. That culminated in a final, vicious assault.
"It appears that you were jealous of the complainant and her relationship with her family and friends. You set to control her by manipulating and threatening her.
"You regularly intimidated her and used violence, repeatedly punching and kicking her. Your unhappy childhood in care may explain your offending and your dreadful record.
"It may also explain in part your failure to build good relationships with your partners, but that does not justify your behaviour. The reality is you will have to do your punishment in prison, but you will also have to engage with any rehabilitation in prison."
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