Louis Martin, 41, of Wheatfield Road in Cronton, Merseyside, began a relationship with a 26-year-old woman in February this year, giving her the false name Louis Bonner. Despite her stating it was not serious, he frequently stayed at her Wirral home, where her six-year-old daughter lived. In late March, she awoke to find him going through her phone and accusing her of seeing other men. He later asked if she had ever been to prison and admitted to his own incarceration, claiming it was for other matters.
Concerned, she searched his name on Google and discovered news articles about his 2007 rape conviction. She recalled feeling faint and feared for her daughter's safety. Martin, realising she knew, said, 'I know what you've found out. I'm going to go.' He pleaded that the offence was a long time ago, but she ended the relationship. Prosecuting, Derek Jones told Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, July 8, that Martin could not accept the breakup.
Relentless Harassment and Threats
Over the next two months, Martin subjected her to relentless contact, turning up at her house, contacting her sister and friends on social media, and threatening to kick her door in. On April 26, while she was on a night out in Liverpool city centre, he repeatedly demanded to know her location, ordering photos to prove it. He claimed to be in a bar next door and warned: 'Leave or I will kill everyone with you.'
After she lost her front door key, Martin said he had it, drove her home, and stayed overnight. He continued to turn up, and she let him in because she was scared for herself and her daughter. He threatened to kill himself if she did not resume the relationship and told 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.'
Assault in Front of Her Daughter
On May 4, Martin banged on her door, took her phone, and disposed of it in Cheshire. A member of the public found it and returned it via her father. Martin then gave her a new iPhone and SIM card, apparently to make her lose contacts. He insisted on driving her to collect her old phone, then snatched it, kicked her, grabbed her neck, and held her head down, causing her to bang into the car while her daughter was present. He was arrested on May 8.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, she 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.'
Previous Convictions and Defence
Martin had five previous convictions for nine offences, including failing to comply with notification requirements in 2016 and 2022, and three years for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and controlling and coercive behaviour in 2017. Defending, Peter White said Martin suffered a cardiac episode after arrest, underwent heart surgery, and was kept under armed guard in hospital for three weeks. White stated: 'It has to be accepted on his behalf that his offending is aggravated by his previous convictions. Albeit there have been numerous breaches of the notification requirement, it was imposed some 20 years ago. There has been no repetition of any index offence.'
White added that Martin was in a bad place, neglecting his health due to heart failure, but now feels better on remand and wants to use his time productively. 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 given a 10-year restraining order.
Sentencing Remarks
Sentencing, Recorder Richard Pratt KC said: '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. This is the fifth time you have committed this particular offence.'
