A bullying boyfriend who threatened to throw his partner off a balcony during a 'frightening' campaign of harassment has been jailed. Andrew McCombe, 44, also threatened to cut her daughter to 'pieces with a knife' and said he would make the mum watch as he 'skinned' the girl alive and 'cut her limb from limb.'
McCombe, from Merseyside, who previously served in the armed forces, was 'out of control' when he flew into a rage after his partner had visited Manchester for a shopping trip, a court heard. He has now been jailed by a judge.
Harassment began after police report
The harassment began earlier this year, after McCombe's partner reported him to the police, the Liverpool Echo reports. The victim 'had been in a relationship with the defendant for about four years, which she described as an abusive, controlling, intimidating relationship,' prosecutor Lee Bonner told Liverpool Crown Court.
"On December 26 last year - Boxing Day - there was an incident of criminal damage when, during an argument, the defendant smashed a lantern," the prosecutor continued. "When the victim's daughter tried to help her mum, the defendant told her 'I don't know why you're standing there because I'll just go through you.' He then threw a plant pot at the girl, causing a cut to her finger," Mr Bonner said.
Rage after Manchester shopping trip
A second incident occurred on May 25 this year, when the victim was shopping in Manchester with her family. McCombe, who had been drinking heavily, sent her a number of messages throughout the day, becoming 'increasingly agitated', the court was told.
"In the early hours of the morning, after many abusive messages, the victim agreed to pick him up," Mr Bonner said. "During the journey, he was aggressive, confrontational, threatening, screaming, and shouting." He threatened to attack the victim's daughter's boyfriend, and threatened to 'ram [the victim's] phone down her throat.'
At the victim's home, McCombe's behaviour escalated, and he threatened to throw his partner off the balcony. He told her he would 'torture her mentally until she broke.' He said he would smash her car and 'pull her arm off.' He also turned his anger on the victim's teenage daughter, telling her to "f** off back to her room" and saying he would 'destroy her life' and 'blow her head off.' He caused damage to the property by striking the walls and tearing out a cupboard, scattering its contents over the floor.
Mr Bonner said: "The description is of a man very much out of control, telling [the victim] to call the police because by the time they arrived, she and her daughter would be dead." The incident was made worse by things the defendant had said previously about cutting [the victim's] daughter into pieces with a knife, or making [the victim] watch as he skinned her daughter and cut her limb from limb.
Breach of bail and further threats
McCombe was arrested and later released on bail on the condition that he did not contact the victim. But on June 4, she received a text message from a man asking her to call McCombe. The following day, during her daughter's birthday party, the victim received reports that McCombe had threatened to gatecrash the event and 'smash it up'. At 11.55pm, door staff at the party venue approached her and warned her to stay inside, as McCombe had been seen loitering outside.
On another occasion, McCombe turned up at a pub while the victim was inside. The landlord asked him to leave, but when the victim left the venue at 1.20am she saw him waiting at the back door. Police were called and McCombe was once again arrested, during which he was described as 'violent' and 'punching the police vehicle and threatening the officers.' In an interview on June 7, he denied the allegations and was once again released on bail.
Between June 12 and 15, he attempted to contact the victim multiple times on his mother's mobile phone. Between June 23 and 30, multiple further messages were sent to the victim from a different number.
Mr Bonner said: "[The victim] became fearful to even leave the house, scared of what the defendant would do next, knowing how violently he had behaved in the past. Having reported the defendant to the police, hoping she would feel safer, the defendant's continuing behaviour made her feel more unsafe, believing he would go so far as to kill her." After being detained a third time, McCombe claimed the victim was 'evil' and 'f***ed in the head', and that she was manipulative and lying.
Sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court
He later pleaded guilty to harassment and two counts of criminal damage. He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday, September 24. The court heard the 44-year-old, of Marlborough Grove in Oxton, on the Wirral, had 24 previous convictions for 49 offences, including harassment, criminal damage, and assault.
Charles Lander, defending, said: "He has accepted responsibility for these actions. He acknowledged how frightening it would have been for [the victim] and her daughter. He blames himself entirely for the position he's in. He has not helped himself by committing offences after being given a chance by the court and bailed."
"There's always two sides to an individual in court. The defendant served in the army. A reference from a friend describes him as having a strong work ethic, being dependable, skilled, and honest."
"He hasn't sat idle while in prison and waited for this fateful day. He's completed a number of courses and has obtained his forklift certificate, and there's work available for this defendant. He has been granted enhanced prisoner status." Other friends described McCombe as loyal, empathetic, and remorseful. Mr Lander said McCombe was known to have issues with alcohol, adding: "The defendant has demonstrated he is determined to rid himself of these problems, to find work and live a law-abiding lifestyle."
The judge, Recorder Eric Lamb, sentenced McCombe to 27 months in prison for harassment, and three weeks for each count of criminal damage.
