JOHN MCBRIDE'S BRUTAL CRIME IN BEDWORTH: VICTIM TERRORIZED BY MAN DESCRIBED AS 'BRUTAL AND MANIPULATIVE'

A man from Bedworth, John McBride, has been publicly branded as a 'brutal and manipulative' individual following his conviction for a series of violent and controlling acts against his former partner. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse that culminated in a severe assault, leaving the victim physically and emotionally scarred.

McBride, aged 40, appeared via video link from HMP Hewell during his sentencing at Warwick Crown Court. The police, in a statement released after the hearing on Wednesday, May 4, shared an image of McBride, emphasizing the seriousness of his actions and the threat he posed.

Warwickshire Police's PC Chloe Betteridge, who was involved in the case, expressed her condemnation of McBride’s conduct. She stated, “McBride is clearly a dangerous and manipulative man. He has shown no remorse for his actions, and I’m pleased he has been brought to justice for what he has done. The victim has shown great bravery in supporting this investigation. I would like to take the opportunity to appeal to any other victims of this type of offending to contact police and seek support.”

The court detailed that the charges stemmed from multiple incidents that occurred in February of this year at the home of McBride’s former partner in Bedworth. The prosecution, led by Simon Hunka, explained that McBride and the victim had met at a logistics company in Coventry where they both worked, beginning their relationship in June 2021. Eventually, McBride moved into the woman’s residence in Bedworth, where troubling signs of control and strain started to emerge.

According to Mr. Hunka, the first of the violent episodes took place after an argument while the couple was returning home from work. The incident escalated after McBride consumed a bottle of vodka. During this altercation, McBride reportedly demanded a cuddle, then physically assaulted the woman by placing both hands around her neck, causing her to struggle for breath. The assault continued with McBride jumping onto the bed, headbutting her, stamping on her side and arms, and hitting her with a mobile phone.

The victim managed to escape the violence and went upstairs, where she quickly dressed and attempted to leave. However, McBride allegedly pulled her back by her hair and continued to physically assault her, punching and kicking her outside on a bench. Despite this, he later persuaded her to return, acting emotionally and professing love, which added a disturbing layer of manipulation to his behavior.

Another violent incident involved McBride pulling the woman off the toilet and repeatedly punching her, leaving visible marks on her eye and forehead. The court heard that a dispute over her not replying quickly enough to his messages led to further violence, with McBride taking her phone, checking her activity, and threatening to block her bank card. During this confrontation, he reportedly grabbed her hair and kicked her stomach multiple times.

On February 27, the violence intensified further. McBride tore her jeans, insulted her by calling her a derogatory term, and made threats against her friends, including threatening to go to their workplaces and break windows. The court described an incident where McBride forcibly entered her home despite a chain on the door, grabbing her and causing her to struggle for breath while pulling her hair and putting a finger in her eye socket. He then headbutted her again and continued the assault, all while she questioned why he was doing this in front of their baby.

The court also detailed the extent of McBride’s harassment, including a day when he made 39 calls to the victim, demanding she meet him or face his threats of violence.

The culmination of his violent behavior was marked by property damage, where McBride threw gloss paint across the woman’s bedroom walls and caused damage to her bathroom, television, and mirrors, leaving paint footprints throughout her home. The victim, overwhelmed and injured, called the police and was taken to hospital. Photographs of her injuries and the scene were taken as evidence.

In her victim impact statement, the woman expressed her profound sense of loss and diminished confidence, revealing she now struggles with anxiety and sleep issues. She also expressed concern about her physical appearance, noting missing hair and scars that she fears may not grow back.

The court was informed that McBride had an extensive criminal record, with 20 previous convictions for 37 offences, including harassment and breach of restraining orders. His history underscores the pattern of violence and control that led to his recent imprisonment, which will see him serve 27 months behind bars for his actions.