A man described as a "cowardly bully" who previously smashed a glass mug in his girlfriend's face has been jailed for abusing another woman he contacted on social media. Ayden O'Brien, 38, of Bury Road in Birkdale, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on October 16 after pleading guilty to domestic offences against a different woman, committed over a four-month period this year.
O'Brien was jailed for three years and 10 months in December 2023 for wounding his ex-partner and then harassing her with threatening messages. He met the new victim in April 2026 after contacting her on social media. Within a few weeks, he became controlling and expected constant contact, demanded to go through her phone, and threatened to harm her family if she did not comply.
Victim came forward after reading press reports
In July, the victim gained the confidence to come forward after reading press reports of O'Brien's history of domestic abuse. He was arrested in August and charged with stalking with fear of violence, malicious communications, assault by beating and criminal damage, and was remanded into custody.
At his sentencing hearing, he received three years in prison and was issued with an indefinite restraining order to protect the victim from future harassment or fear of violence.
Victim impact statement
In a victim impact statement, the woman said: "Before I met O’Brien, I would never have been able to comprehend that a person can have such a massive impact on my wellbeing in a such a short space of time."
"I question things that I never thought of before like walking to work on my own which I have stopped doing and changed the way I travel and where I go. I now avoid places that I previously would have been fine with. If I see someone who looks like him I panic and I’m overcome with fear. I have become someone who is scared to go out alone."
"I always worried for my family’s safety, I never knew what he was capable of and was constantly on edge and follow through with his threats."
Police condemn 'no remorse'
Detective Constable Heather Shotton said: "The victim tried many times to end the relationship and cut contact with him. But he relentlessly contacted her both through phone calls and through more than 20 social media accounts he created."
"O’Brien threatened to harm the victim, and those close to her, and told her he would ruin her life by posting lies about her on social media. The victim felt she had no choice but to keep in contact with him and try to keep him happy, visiting him and putting herself in harm’s way in a desperate attempt to protect her loved ones."
"Upon his arrest, he showed no remorse for his actions and could not understand that his behaviour was wrong. Over the course of only four months, O’Brien assaulted the victim, threatened her, and impacted her mental health to the point she feels like a completely different person to who she was before she met him."
Detective Constable Shotton added: "I would like to emphasise that there is help available to anyone who may be suffering domestic abuse of any kind and together with partner agencies, we will do all that we can to support you."
"Domestic abuse comes in many forms, it isn’t just physical – it can be emotional, sexual, financial or controlling behaviour and it can happen to anyone, regardless of gender. We have specially trained officers who will listen to you and support you with sensitivity and compassion."
"I would also ask everyone to look out for your family members, friends or neighbours that may be suffering, as by contacting us you could be helping someone who is too afraid to help themselves. Everything you tell us is taken extremely seriously and will be investigated thoroughly."
Support and reporting options
Anyone with non-urgent information on domestic abuse – whether a victim or someone who believes a person is a victim – can contact police via direct message @MerPolCC on X and Facebook, or contact @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111. In immediate danger, always call 999. If calling 999 and not in a safe position to speak, cough, tap the phone and press 55 when prompted, which alerts the operator to provide assistance.
Information can also be requested under Clare's Law, the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, which enables police to release information about a person's previous history of violence or abuse. Further support organisations for victims of domestic violence are also available, and police recently launched a Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) campaign to put the voices of women and girls at the heart of work to tackle VAWG.
