A terrified woman was forced to grab a knife and flee her home after her violent and controlling boyfriend tried to go through her phone. Liam Labourne, 34, slapped, punched, and suffocated his girlfriend after finding a message from a man wishing her 'Happy Birthday'.
Details of the Abuse
Labourne, of Dulverton Close, Bransholme, Hull, admitted using controlling and coercive behaviour in Scunthorpe between January 1 and August 4, 2024. He pleaded guilty on the day of his scheduled trial at Hull Crown Court. Other charges were dropped, as reported by Grimsby Live.
Ben Weeks, prosecuting, said Labourne and the 26-year-old woman began a relationship at the end of August 2023. Her sister noticed a change in her and contacted police in early 2024, leading to a welfare check. This marked 'the start of things going wrong', with Labourne hitting her for the first time and telling her: 'Your family are all snitches.'
The abuse escalated, with Labourne hitting her, damaging her home, and smashing mobile phones and other items. He verbally abused her, calling her names, and she felt unable to go out without him. He would call and text her continually, contacting her friends and family to check her whereabouts.
Specific Incidents
On July 14, 2024, Labourne slapped his girlfriend after grabbing her phone and being challenged. On July 29, 2024, he discovered a 'Happy Birthday' message from another male, slapped her face, punched her ribs, and suffocated her by pushing her head into her bed. When she refused to let him go through her phone, he smashed it on a table.
'She was so terrified that she fled, taking a knife with her for protection,' said Mr Weeks. 'She cowered behind bins in her underwear to hide from him. She waited until he left before re-entering and barricading herself in as he kicked at her door and climbed up to her bathroom window, shouting that he wanted his jacket.'
On August 4, 2024, Labourne approached her at 8am while she was heading to the shops, got into her car holding a baseball bat, and shouted at her to drive somewhere for a chat. He punched her arm and continued verbal abuse. The pair were later approached by her ex-boyfriend at a supermarket, leading to an argument, and police were called.
Impact on the Victim
The woman was now a 'shell of herself' and felt 'scarred for life'. She suffered from trust issues and felt worthless and stressed.
Previous Convictions
Labourne had eight previous offences, including assault (punching a girlfriend's arm in October 2013), criminal damage (April 2010 and January 2016), threatening a former girlfriend with a hammer, and breaching a non-molestation order (March 2010 and April 2016).
Sentencing
Nadim Bashir, mitigating, said Labourne's guilty plea spared the woman from reliving her experiences at trial. Labourne had spent time on remand and was now in a new relationship with a two-month-old child. He had been working.
Labourne, who had been on bail, was jailed for three years. He was given a seven-year restraining order and ordered to pay a £228 victims' surcharge.
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk. If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist support. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk.
