A woman who believed she had found the perfect partner after her divorce realised it was a 'facade' when her boyfriend subjected her to a series of brutal assaults, culminating in her fleeing to a pub in her pyjamas.
Charming Start Turns Violent
Simon McKeown, 46, of Edgehill Road in Moreton, initially presented himself as the ideal partner. He took the newly divorced woman out for fancy meals and lavished her with gifts. However, the relationship quickly soured, leading to a string of cruel and demeaning attacks.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that the victim, who has chosen to remain anonymous, met McKeown at the Grange pub in Moreton in December 2024. She was newly single after the breakdown of her 16-year marriage. The pair exchanged numbers and arranged to meet again.
Prosecutor Suzanne Payne told the court: 'The relationship appeared to be good to begin with. The defendant was charming. He took the victim out for nice meals. In those first couple of weeks, things were good. In her words, 'I fell for him, head over heels'.'
First Assault at a Hotel
However, the couple argued over the Christmas period, leading to the victim cancelling a planned New Year's Eve meal where she intended to introduce McKeown to her son. McKeown instead booked a room at the Baltic Hotel for that night. The evening 'started well' before he left her alone at around 9.30pm without explanation.
He returned 90 minutes later with flowers and a bottle of whisky. She FaceTimed her 21-year-old son shortly after midnight and spoke to one of his friends, laughing and joking. Afterwards, McKeown 'accused her of fancying her son's mate' and slapped her across the face, causing her to fall off the bed. She ended the relationship the next day but eventually forgave him and they resumed.
Escalating Violence
After a short period of calm, McKeown's violence resumed. On one occasion when she tried to leave his house after an argument, he pulled her back into the garden as she attempted to climb over the back gate. He then 'put a puppy pad soaked in urine over her face', leaving her struggling to breathe, before throwing her to the floor and returning inside.
McKeown tried to win her back by buying her trainers, a hoodie, and leggings. But during a night out in Liverpool city centre, when she spoke to another woman in Jenny's Bar, he dragged her outside, accusing her of swapping numbers with the woman.
In September last year, after she enjoyed a spa day with friends, McKeown banged on her door in the early hours, accusing her of having another man in the house. A week later, he collected her from Hamilton Square Station after a 'pop up DJ' event and took her back to his house. When she showed him a video of her behind the DJ booth, he became very angry, threw her around the room, and accused her of being a 'slag' and sleeping with the DJ. She tried to flee multiple times, but he dragged her back each time until she pretended to call the police at around 6am, prompting him to flee.
Desperate Escape
Left with her 'whole body aching', McKeown later arrived at her home and threatened her son, forcing her to get into his van. When he stopped in traffic, she jumped out and ran into the Kings Arms pub in Rock Ferry to seek help.
McKeown admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and four counts of assault. Appearing via video link from HMP Liverpool, he was jailed for 31 months and handed a five-year restraining order.
Sentencing, Recorder Ben Lawrence said: 'She describes a lasting psychological impact on her. She found the assault with the puppy pad particularly degrading. She felt particularly helpless, because it restricted her breathing.'
