Woman discovers boyfriend's true identity through online search
A mother of a six-year-old girl experienced a moment of horror when a simple Google search uncovered that her new partner, Louis Martin, was a convicted rapist. The 41-year-old, of Wheatfield Road in Cronton, had been using the alias Louis Bonner when he began a relationship with the 26-year-old woman in February of this year. The woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous, had made it clear from the start that she did not want anything serious, but Martin frequently stayed at her home in Wirral, often in the presence of her young daughter.
Controlling behaviour escalates after discovery
According to prosecutor Derek Jones, the woman's suspicions grew in late March when she woke to find Martin going through her phone. He accused her of seeing other men and asked if she had ever been to prison, admitting he had been jailed but claiming it was for other matters. This prompted her to search his name online, where she found news articles detailing his 2007 rape conviction. She told the court she felt faint and feared for her daughter's safety. When Martin realized she had discovered the truth, he said, 'I know what you've found out. I'm going to go,' but pleaded that the offence was 'a long time ago, when he was much younger.' Despite her ending the relationship, Martin refused to accept it.
Over the following weeks, Martin subjected her to relentless harassment. He turned up at her house, contacted her sister, and added her friends on social media. In one message, he threatened to kick her door in and go to her sister's home. On April 26, while she was on a night out in Liverpool city centre, Martin repeatedly demanded to know her location and sent her messages ordering her to send photos to prove where she was. He then claimed to be in a bar next door and warned her, 'Leave or I will kill everyone with you.'
Assault in front of child leads to arrest
After she lost her front door key, Martin drove her home and stayed overnight. He continued to turn up at her home, and she let him in out of fear for herself and her daughter, as he threatened to climb in via scaffolding. He also threatened suicide if she did not resume the relationship, telling her sister, 'I'm obsessed with her. I'm not going to leave her alone. If she thinks she can get away from me, she's got no chance.' On May 4, Martin arrived at her property, banged on the door, took her phone, and drove to Cheshire to dispose of it. A member of the public found the phone and contacted her father to return it. Martin then gave her a new iPhone and SIM card, apparently to make her lose her contacts. When she went to retrieve her old phone, Martin snatched it, kicked her, grabbed her by the neck, and forced her head down, causing her to hit the car—all while her daughter was present. He was arrested on May 8.
Victim impact statement details ongoing trauma
In a victim impact statement read to the court, the woman said: 'From the beginning, I made it clear I didn't want anything serious. His behaviour quickly became controlling and intrusive. I struggle to get through daily tasks that once felt normal. I barely sleep, usually only two or three hours per night. When I do, I relive everything in my head, waking up exhausted. There hasn't been a single day where I haven't thought about what happened and what he might do next. I'm scared that if I let someone in the same thing will happen again.'
Martin's criminal history and defence mitigation
Martin has five previous convictions for nine offences, including failing to comply with notification requirements in 2016 and 2022, and a 2017 sentence of three years for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and controlling and coercive behaviour. Defence barrister Peter White told the court that Martin suffered a 'cardiac episode' after arrest, underwent heart surgery, and was kept under armed guard in hospital for three weeks. White argued that while the offending was aggravated by previous convictions, there had been no repetition of the index offence of rape. He said Martin was in a 'bad place' due to heart failure and had been neglecting his health. Martin now feels 'better and more balanced' on remand and wants to concentrate on his health.
Sentence and restraining order imposed
Martin pleaded guilty to controlling or coercive behaviour, assault, and failing to comply with notification requirements. Appearing via video link from HMP Liverpool, he was sentenced to 27 months in prison and handed a 10-year restraining order. Recorder Richard Pratt KC stated: 'She made it plain to you that she did not want to have any form of commitment with you. You refused to accept that and, increasingly, were staying at her house. When you got wind of the fact that she was aware of your past, you became all the more intrusive. You gave her a false name and lied about the nature of your conviction. You began to issue her with threats. You demanded and took possession of her phone and even went to the extent of providing her with another phone. This is classic controlling and coercive behaviour and was accompanied, on many occasions, by threats of violence. That was a serious and unpleasant assault, made all the worse because it was in the presence of her daughter. You failed to notify the police that you were using a different name and were staying at a house in which a child was living. I am quite sure you knew that was a requirement you had to fulfil, not least because you have faced previous offences involving this failure. This is the fifth time you have committed this particular offence.'
