Cocaine-fueled violent assault leads to suspended prison sentence for Liam Connolly

COCAINE-FUELED VIOLENT ASSAULT LEADS TO SUSPENDED PRISON SENTENCE FOR LIAM CONNOLLY

Liam Connolly, of Lapwing Close, Newton le Willows, was involved in a violent assault on Sophie Leicester, the mother of his child.

He had been under the influence of cocaine and alcohol when he smashed his way into her home early in the morning after an all-night bender.

Connolly forcibly pulled Sophie from her bed, where she was sleeping in her underwear, and then proceeded to rain down more than 20 punches on her, causing severe injuries including a fractured maxilla, which was confirmed by X-ray.

Sophie was found with bruising, swelling, nosebleed, and carpet burns, and required hospital treatment.

Connolly had smashed a window to gain entry and fled before police arrived.

He was convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm and other charges, receiving a two-year and two-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months.

The judge noted the serious and sustained nature of the attack, emphasizing the vulnerability of the victim and the fact that he was already serving a suspended sentence for previous violent offences, including violence at age 14 and subsequent similar crimes.

Connolly's previous record included a youth referral order for grievous bodily harm, a homophobic threat incident, assault causing actual bodily harm, and a battery in 2018, which he breached.

The court revoked his remaining community requirements and jailed him for two years and two months, with his mother in court beginning to cry as the sentence was pronounced.