Stefan McCormick, 35, who was previously jailed for snapping a puppy's legs, sent his ex-girlfriend 37 abusive voice messages accusing her of killing their pet cat, Cleo. At Liverpool Crown Court today, August 14, he was sentenced to seven months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and 15 rehabilitation days. A restraining order banning him from contacting his former partner for five years was also made.
Abusive tirade over 18 hours
The incident occurred on December 29 2024, eight months after McCormick and his former partner, who the ECHO has chosen not to name, parted ways. Prosecutor Helen Chenery said: "They separated in April and they remained in communication on and off. They had shared a cat called Cleo. Cleo was rehomed by [his ex] after she separated from McCormick and at some stage, by December 2024, Cleo died."
She made it known to McCormick that the cat had died on December 29. Over a period of 18 hours, from midday to 5am, he sent her 37 voice notes, all of which the prosecution say are extremely abusive, some of which are threatening. The majority of the messages are to do with the cat. He repeatedly accuses her of either directly or indirectly being responsible for the cat's death.
Threats and insults in recorded messages
Recordings of some of the voice notes left by McCormick were played to the court. In one, he said: "The cat that I bought for you, going to put that beautiful girl in the bin, you have something coming to you." He also said: "I didn't kill her, you did. I didn't kill you. I might have killed a dog, but I didn't kill you."
He added: "I hate you all with a passion, and when you all think it's going to be over, it's not going to be over, you dirty little cat-killing c***s." The prosecutor said: "It's fair to say it becomes clear that this defendant was incredibly intoxicated."
Mitigation and sentence
McCormick, who has 15 previous convictions for 20 offences, pleaded guilty to sending electronic communications with the intent to cause fear, distress, or anxiety. David Polglase, defending, said: "The defendant is 35; he's therefore still a young man and he clearly has a different side from what Your Honour has heard on that recording." He noted McCormick had not been taking drugs for some considerable period, was in remission from cancer, and had mental health difficulties.
Sentencing, Recorder Miss A Price said: "This was persistent offending over a relatively short period of time. It's in a domestic contact and you have numerous previous convictions. However there are mitigating factors. While your offending was persistent, it was all within a very contained period of time." She accepted he was genuinely apologetic and remorseful, and that he was emotional about the situation regarding the cat, but said: "You cannot behave that way just because you're upset."
