MAN HIT GIRLFRIEND WITH SHOVEL AS SHE FED HER SON BREAKFAST AND THREW DOG FAECES AT HER
A man who attacked his partner with a shovel and later tried to suffocate her has been jailed following a disturbing case of domestic violence.Jake Shaw, 30, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court after admitting two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against his then-girlfriend, Kirsty Burrows.
The assaults occurred on February 21 of last year at Ms Burrows' home on Orrell Street in St Helens, where she lived with her children.
The court heard that Shaw and Ms Burrows had been in an “on-off” relationship for around eight years, having met through a dating website.
On the night of February 20, the couple argued about their puppies.
Fearing for her safety, Ms Burrows chose to sleep in her son’s room.
The next morning, while she was feeding her child breakfast, Shaw struck her over the head with a shovel.
She attempted to protect herself with her arms and legs, but he continued to hit her.
When she tried to leave to take her children to school, Shaw withheld her car keys until she picked up dog waste from the driveway — only to then throw the bags at her.
Ms Burrows sustained swelling and bruising from the first assault.
Later that night, Shaw returned to her home and asked to stay.
Although Ms Burrows agreed on the condition that he sleep on the sofa due to his intoxicated state, he entered her bedroom about 20 minutes later and began a second attack.
He sat on her legs, punched her in the chest and side, and then struck the back of her head.
Shaw proceeded to sit on her again and held a pillow over her face, attempting to suffocate her.
He then used his hands to cover her mouth and nose, leaving her unable to breathe.
Ms Burrows managed to punch him and break free.
Shaw then threatened: “I’m going to get you done for assault.” As she tried to flee to her mother’s house, he grabbed her son’s school uniform in an attempt to stop them.
At one point, he picked up a combat knife and said: “If you leave me, I’m going to kill myself.” When he grabbed her again, her dog intervened and attacked him, during which the knife accidentally caused a cut and bruising to Ms Burrows.
Shaw responded by grabbing the dog by the throat, pushing it down, and stomping on its neck.
Ms Burrows was able to escape during the struggle and fled to her mother’s home.
In a statement read in court, Ms Burrows described the long-term emotional impact of the attack.
She has since been diagnosed with PTSD and experiences frequent panic attacks and nightmares.
She said: “I feel like my life is rubbish at the moment.
I don’t feel like me.
I feel like what happened to me is never going to leave me.” The court was told Shaw had five previous convictions, including an 18-week sentence in 2019 for battery against Ms Burrows.
Although he denied using the shovel, his defense said he "accepts his actions were not acceptable and takes responsibility for those actions." Shaw has since moved to Mirfield, West Yorkshire, and reportedly stopped drinking.
He also suffers from rheumatoid arthritis.
Recorder Eric Lamb imposed a 10-month prison sentence and issued a five-year restraining order prohibiting contact with Ms Burrows.
In sentencing, he remarked: “Offences of domestic violence involve a breach of the trust of an intimate relationship.
I have concluded that appropriate punishment can only be achieved by an immediate term of custody.”
