A woman in fear grabbed a knife and fled when her controlling boyfriend tried to access her phone. Liam Labourne physically assaulted his girlfriend upon discovering a birthday message from another man on her mobile device. Labourne, residing in Bransholme, Hull, was known to physically harm and intimidate his partner, especially when inspecting her phone for content he disapproved of, a court disclosed.
Labourne admitted to engaging in coercive and controlling behavior in Scunthorpe between January 1 and August 4, 2024, after pleading guilty on the scheduled trial date at Hull Crown Court. Other charges against him were dismissed. Prosecution revealed that Labourne and the woman began their relationship in August 2023, with the situation escalating after a welfare check initiated by the woman’s sister led to Labourne’s first violent outburst.
The abusive behavior continued, with Labourne verbally abusing the woman, restricting her movements, and constantly monitoring her activities through her phone. The situation worsened on multiple occasions, including an incident where Labourne physically assaulted the woman after finding a birthday message from another man on her phone. The woman, feeling terrified, had to escape and hide behind bins, armed with a knife for self-protection.
Labourne’s violent actions culminated in an incident where he forced his way into the woman’s car with a baseball bat, physically assaulting her and verbally abusing her. The situation escalated further when they encountered the woman’s ex-boyfriend at a supermarket, leading to a police intervention. The woman, left traumatized and scarred, struggled with trust issues and emotional distress.
Labourne, with a history of previous convictions for assault and criminal damage, was sentenced to three years in prison. Additionally, he received a seven-year restraining order and was ordered to pay a victims’ surcharge. Despite pleading guilty, Labourne’s actions left a lasting impact on the woman, who now seeks to rebuild her life and recover from the traumatic experiences.