MANCHESTER OFFENDER SENTENCED FOR ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC ABUSE
A man identified as Joseph Gallacher, aged 20, was involved in violent and controlling behaviour towards his girlfriend, Natasha O’Callaghan.The court heard he abused her after mistakenly believing she was seeing other men, during a six-month relationship in 2017.
Gallacher engaged in threatening behaviour, including threatening other men at her college and restricting her from seeing friends and family.
He also called her derogatory names such as “slag” for wearing make-up and dressing up.
His violent actions included smashing her iPod, attempting to flush her dress down the toilet, and throwing objects like a candle and a TV remote at her when she refused his sexual advances.
He also stole her mother's ring and sold it for £60.
Court reports indicate Gallacher checked her phone while she was sleeping and sent flirtatious messages to other men.
The assault escalated when she told him she had miscarried their baby; he then met her outside a doctor’s clinic, took her to a canal, and beat her, fracturing her nose.
He also forced her to transfer £500 via mobile banking, but she managed to escape before withdrawing money, after which she called the police, who found her distressed and visibly bruised.
The injuries included redness on her cheek, swelling above her eye, and bruising on her nose.
The judge, Patrick Field QC, condemned Gallacher’s behavior, calling it “nothing short of shameful” and emphasizing that his difficult childhood was not an excuse.
Gallacher admitted to engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour, theft, and fraud.
He had previous convictions for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage and was ordered to complete a domestic abuse program, perform 200 hours of unpaid work, pay £500 in compensation, and was given a five-year restraining order.
Gallacher had been held on remand for nine months.
Despite facing up to five years in prison, he received a suspended sentence of 21 months for his crimes, claiming his actions were due to being “young, immature and a little weirdo.” The judge criticized him for disrespecting Natasha and using multiple methods to control and humiliate her, but ultimately found he would serve his sentence suspended for two years.Miss O’Callaghan called the police after Gallacher fractured her nose.
The court noted her distress and visible injuries, including redness, swelling, and bruising.
The case highlighted Gallacher’s history of violence and controlling behaviour, with the judge condemning his conduct and emphasizing that childhood issues do not excuse violent and abusive actions.
