Violent bully bit nose of his partner during campaign of terrifying abuse

Liam Owen carried out a number of other violent attacks on his victim over a four-month period where he bit her on the nose, punched her to the face and slapped her.

The 29-year-old’s actions were described as ‘chaotic, mad behaviour’ by his own barrister when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court.

Owen pleaded guilty to a catalogue of offences in connection with his abusive behaviour to his former partner, including false imprisonment, assault occasioning actual bodily, criminal damage and dangerous driving.

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Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said Owen had a history of violence, including former partners.

Owen's reign of terror came to an end in June last year when he was arrested following a high-speed rampage around Middlesbrough in his white Audi.

Liam Owen

Mr Dryden said the defendant had repeatedly punched his victim as he drove around with her locked in his car.

The court heard how he reached speeds inn excess of 80mph in 30 zones before he was eventually arrested when police managed to locate the defendant's car.

He added: "She got out of the car in her pyjamas, she went to stand next to the police car and she had blood on her face."

Mr Dryden said Owen was in possession of cocaine and was over the drink drive limit when he was arrested.

In February last year, Owen attacked his partner in a drug-fuelled rage when he picked her up by her neck and tore her dress.

Three months later he smashed a glass onto his own forehead before hitting her and being abusive.

Owen, of Grantley Avenue, Middlesbrough, also pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving and assaulting an emergency worker when he pushed a police officer into a bush after he abandoned his car following a short police chase in August 2019.

Rod Hunt, in mitigation, said his client had been a model prisoner while on remand and had volunteered as a Covid cleaner to help protect his fellow inmates before being struck down himself with the virus.

He added: "The chaotic, mad behaviour that the defendant illustrated through this catalogue of offending seems to fly in the face of his behaviour since."

Judge Paul Watson QC told the defendant his offending warranted a custodial sentence.

"In early 2020 you were making her life an absolute misery," he said. "Had it not been for the references of the prison staff, which I have read and I have to say were impressive, the sentence would have been far worse than it has been today."

Owen was also banned from driving for 22 months and made subject of an indefinite restraining order to protect his former partner.