Drunken brute beat former girlfriend's face 'to a pulp'

James Greaves, of Pitt Street, Fingerpost was sentenced to three years and four months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday (March 6).

Greaves, 38, subjected his victim Aimee Clarke to a "prolonged kicking and beating" five years after he had made a similar attack on her.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today that that Miss Clarke called unexpectedly at Greaves’ home in Fingerpost on January 20 of this year and was still there the next day when her friend called round.

Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, said that when she opened the front door and saw blood on her face she alerted police.

When officers turned up they found the victim in bed and saw she had facial injuries.

“She initially told officers she had caused herself the injury but later disclosed that she had been assaulted by the defendant.

“She told one of the officers that after they had a petty argument over drink he kicked her to the face causing the injuries and he just kicked off for no reason whatsoever.”

Mr Blasbery said that she clearly had a tear in her lip where her tooth had gone through it and at Whiston Hospital it was found she had a small subdural haemorrhage to the right side of her forehead and bruises to her face.

When arrested and interviewed 38-year-old Greaves said that he and Miss Clarke, the mother of their child, had parted in 2009 but kept in touch as she lived locally.

When she called round in January they took alcohol and nerve tablets and he said he could not recollect the next two days.

“When shown a photograph of her injuries he looked at it and looked away,” added Mr Blasbery.

Asked if he had repeatedly kicked and punched her he said he could not remember.

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Judge Robert Warnock told Greaves that he formed the opinion that he is dangerous but for legal reasons was unable to impose an extended sentence and instead jailed him for 40 months.

He said that photographs graphically illustrated the injuries suffered by Aimee Clarke, saying to Greaves: “You reduced her face to a pulp.”

Judge Warnock said: “It was a sustained prolonged kicking and beating. What you did was a disgraceful attack upon the victim.”

He pointed out that his previous convictions included attacking Miss Clarke in October 2014 - “yet again fuelled by the mis-use of drugs and/or alcohol” - and also injected his aunt, who tried to stop that attack, with her insulin.

His aunt also suffered a broken collar bone and three broken ribs but recovered from the insulin jab.

Greaves was jailed for 13 months for those assaults in February 2015.

Greaves was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court

Stephen McNally, defending, said Greaves did not remember kicking her but he accepted the Crown’s case.

“Clearly an excessive amount of alcohol and prescription medication was taken. He has expressed remorse and pleaded guilty,” he said.

Mr McNally said that the couple “shared an unhappy history and unhappy chemistry. His intention is there will be no further interaction after his release from his inevitable custodial sentence.”

Judge Warnock imposed an indefinite restraining order to keep Greaves away from the victim.