LEE MONAGHAN SENTENCED IN LIVERPOOL FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AND RETRIBUTION ATTACK
A man named Lee Monaghan, aged 48, who sexually assaulted and photographed a sleeping female friend, was subjected to a violent act of retribution when his arm was broken.The victim, in her 20s, had previously come to Monaghan’s aid but was later assaulted at his home in Smollett Street, Bootle, during the night of 2017.
According to the prosecution, Arthur Gibson, the attack happened after the victim intervened during an argument between Monaghan and another man.
She helped to defuse the situation, accompanied Monaghan back to his home, and left.
Later, she returned alone to check on him.
They engaged in drinking and possibly drugs before the woman fell asleep on a settee.
Court documents reveal that Monaghan then sexually assaulted her by pulling down her clothing, touching her, and taking photographs of her naked body without her awareness.
These photos were only discovered later during a police investigation.
The victim was awakened during the assault; she demanded to know what he was doing, and Monaghan claimed he thought she was consenting, despite her being 'fast asleep.' Shocked and upset, she walked home and confided in a friend, tearfully saying, 'I told him I didn't want it but he done it anyway.' The next morning, she called another friend, crying and saying, 'I didn't want him to do it,' and referred to Monaghan as 'Jugsy.' Her friend found her in tears in the bath and called her mother, who contacted the police.
Monaghan later admitted, through a series of text messages sent from around 9:30 a.m.
the following day, to having touched her inappropriately.
His messages included an apology: 'I no.
am so sorry plz forgive me x,' and pleas for forgiveness such as 'plz av said am sorry,' 'let me come an c ye plz am so sorry,' and 'plz don't hate me now x.' A confrontation with Monaghan’s friends and family resulted in him being physically assaulted, including the breaking of his arm.
He fled his home, was later arrested at a friend’s house, and was taken to hospital due to his injury.
The police interviewed him the next day; he initially admitted to some minor inappropriate contact but denied further sexual assault until presented with photographic evidence in a subsequent 2019 interview, which led to his admission of placing his hand in her underwear.
Monaghan, of Linacre Road, Litherland, pleaded guilty to assault by penetration on the first day of trial, after previously admitting sexual assault.
He has a criminal history of assault but no previous sex offences.
Defence lawyer Trevor Parry-Jones explained that Monaghan had a significant alcohol problem but had since attended drug and alcohol courses, stopped using hard drugs, and reduced alcohol consumption, though he still smoked cannabis.
His family circumstances are described as difficult, with the death of his father in 2015, his sister in 2016, and brothers living abroad or suffering from illness.
The judge, Trevor-Jones, clarified that the victim was a friend who had tried to help Monaghan and that her assault left her more reserved and worsened her mental health.
Addressing Monaghan, the judge noted, 'People understandably angry went to his home...
and he was then the subject of an assault.' While considering the violent consequences faced by Monaghan, the judge remarked, 'Many will say you probably thoroughly deserved that.' The court sentenced Monaghan to 18 months in prison, starting from a sentencing range of 30 months, with a reduction of six months for the delay in proceedings and his guilty plea.
Further deductions for the 'retribution' and serving time during the pandemic resulted in the final sentence.
He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and to adhere to a four-year restraining order.
After sentencing, Detective Constable Julia Jennings commented, 'Monaghan consistently lied to police about what took place in his home and has forced his victim to relive her ordeal by denying the sexual assault.' She praised the victim’s courage and emphasized the importance of reporting such crimes.
Jennings expressed hope that the case would encourage others to come forward, noting the delays caused by the Covid pandemic and reaffirming the police’s commitment to addressing such serious offences.
