LEE CAVANAGH SENTENCED IN LIVERPOOL FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE AND ANIMAL MALTREATMENT

Lee Cavanagh, born around 2001 and of Rankin Street, Poulton, Wallasey CH44 5TG, was convicted in 2022 of a series of offences including assault, harassment, criminal damage, and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. The court heard how Cavanagh attacked his partner after she went out with friends on Boxing Day 2021, flying into a rage upon her return.

According to prosecutor Joshua Sanderson-Kirk, Cavanagh’s ex-girlfriend had experienced frequent abuse during their roughly three-year relationship. After celebrating with her friends, she was unreachable as her phone battery died. Cavanagh, aware of her location, followed her and forced her back to her flat. Once there, he destroyed furniture and then assaulted her, locking her and her small pug in a room for two hours while he attacked her.

Mr. Sanderson-Kirk described the scene, saying, “She describes cowering on the floor while trying to protect her dog, which had already been kicked by the defendant.” During the ordeal, Cavanagh also kicked the dog numerous times. The woman later told police she considered jumping from the window to escape but chose to stay to keep her dog safe. She eventually managed to escape when Cavanagh received a phone call, leaving the room and running to her mother’s house while barefoot, bleeding from her face, and carrying her injured dog.

Despite Cavanagh’s initial apology, the woman ended their relationship shortly afterward, leading to his harassment. She reported the assault and his abusive behavior to the police. Cavanagh responded by bombarding her with threatening messages, including one read out in court: “Beatings I’ve given you in the past are nothing compared to what you are going to get today, I’m going to jail anyway.” On another occasion, he followed her in a park and threatened her while she was walking her dog.

He was later arrested and pleaded guilty to multiple offences, including assault, harassment, criminal damage, and cruelty to a protected animal. Cavanagh appeared at Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing, which also included a separate assault charge involving a teenager in Seacombe.

Defending lawyer Adam Antoszkiw spoke of Cavanagh's difficult childhood and mentioned that, since being remanded in custody, he has been attempting to turn his life around to prevent reoffending. The court sentenced him to a total of 28 months in prison. A restraining order was also imposed, banning him from contacting his ex-girlfriend for ten years.