A pathologically jealous boyfriend who forced dog faeces into his girlfriend's mouth, strangled her pet, and threatened to kill her has been jailed for three years and five months. Steven Farrell, 50, carried out a relentless campaign of physical and psychological abuse against his partner throughout their relationship, which began shortly after his release from prison in October 2024.
Horrific Campaign of Abuse
Preston Crown Court heard that Farrell would regularly take cocaine and moved into the woman's home in Rossendale within just months of meeting her. The controlling boyfriend insisted on walking his girlfriend to and from work, regularly confiscated and smashed her phone, and used it to reply to messages from concerned friends pretending to be her.
Escalating Violence and Threats
The woman was subjected to horrific physical abuse during which Farrell would gag her to stop her screaming. On April 25, when the woman refused to go clothes shopping with him, Farrell went out to buy cocaine and returned accusing her of cheating. He put a plastic bag over her head and told her: "I'll kill you next time." Half an hour later, he began strangling her dog with its lead.
At 1am the following morning, Farrell dragged the woman out of bed and threw a hairdryer at her head, causing injury. She managed to kick him out of the house, but at 6am he returned using a spare key. Later that day, a neighbour heard screaming and called police, but Farrell warned the victim "you'd better say nowt" and she told officers they had just had a verbal disagreement.
Forced Consumption of Dog Faeces
The following day, Farrell called the woman's workplace claiming she had overslept, having intentionally turned off her alarm. During this time, he held a knife to her throat and forced a dog bag containing faeces into her mouth. The bag split, causing the faeces to enter her mouth. He then attacked her, causing extensive bruising to her legs, breasts, and arm.
Arrest and Court Proceedings
When the woman's friend arrived and called police, officers found the victim sitting on the sofa looking "exhausted." When asked what had happened, she said: "Just arguments." Her friend gestured to officers that Farrell was still at the address, and he was arrested trying to flee through the garden, claiming: "I've not done anything like that. She's making it up."
Farrell, of Mintridge Close, Manchester, later pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour, suffocation, and actual bodily harm (ABH).
Victim's Trauma and Sentencing
In a victim statement, the woman said she was left "covered in bruises" and was terrified for her life when Farrell put the bag over her head, believing he was going to kill her. "This will have an emotional impact for the rest of my life," she told the court. The woman now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and struggles to sleep, waking with flashbacks and memories of the abuse.
Sentencing Farrell, Recorder Michelle Brown said: "Your offending was designed to belittle and humiliate her, and instil fear. The ABH was prolonged. You used a knife to threaten her, punched and kicked her and attempted to force faeces down her throat." She declared Farrell a dangerous offender and sentenced him to three years and five months in prison, with a one-year extended licence period to protect the public.
