NOTTINGHAM BOXER JAILED FOR STALKING AND ASSAULT
A professional boxer from Nottinghamshire carried out “a campaign of stalking” against his long-term partner during which he put a spyware app on her mobile phone to track her.Nottingham Crown Court heard how Connor “The Pitbull” Meanwell bombarded the mother of his children with messages - even saying she was “being watched” when she was out on a night out.
The 29-year-old fighter from Newark had earlier thrown an ashtray which struck her head after coming home from training “angry” and accusing her of speaking to another man.
His now estranged ex said all of this happened during the enforced Covid lockdowns, when he “changed” and became “really angry.” The judge, Michael Auty KC, handed him a suspended sentence, stating: “You hurled an ashtray at her and it hit her to the head.
Imagine for a moment if it had hit her in the eye.” The court was told that all of this took place in her own home where she should feel safe.
The prosecution, Tony Stanford, said Menwell and the victim had been in a relationship for 12 years and had three children together.
He explained that during the Covid lockdowns, the defendant’s behaviour worsened, and “things between them became really bad,” with him “becoming really angry.” On October 14, 2021, he came home from boxing training and started questioning her about another man, becoming very angry.
He then picked up an ashtray and threw it at her.
The following incident resulted in her going to hospital after she saw blood on her forehead.
Despite the relationship continuing, Menwell continued to act jealously, often accusing her of speaking to other men while he was talking to other women.
In May 2022, she asked him to leave, and he moved to his mother’s address but continued to message her.
One night, when she was out in Newark, he sent her a message saying she was “being watched.” It was discovered that he had installed a spyware app on her phone to track her movements and also accessed her social media accounts.
Menwell, of Devon Road, Newark, admitted to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and stalking.
He had two minor prior convictions from his youth.
Mitigation from Dan Mander mentioned that he was 26 at the time, now 29, and has not been involved in trouble since, with access to see his children and working as a welder.
The court sentenced him to 18 months in jail, suspended for two years, with 150 hours of unpaid work, £25 in rehabilitation sessions, and ordered him to pay £900 in costs and £1,200 in compensation.
A five-year restraining order was also imposed.
