MAN JAILED AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO DOMESTIC ASSAULT
Josh Shanahan, aged 22, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court where he received a sentence of three years and nine months in prison on Thursday, July 23.Additionally, he was granted an indefinite restraining order aimed at preventing any further harassment or violence directed at the victim.
The court's ruling pertains to a pattern of violence and abuse that Shanahan inflicted on a 17-year-old victim over the course of more than a year, ending earlier this year.
His offences included multiple serious assaults, non-fatal strangulation, and controlling and coercive conduct.
After his arrest in April, Shanahan, who resides on Stanley Road, admitted guilt to charges of actual bodily harm, two counts of non-fatal strangulation, and controlling and coercive behaviour.
In a detailed victim impact statement read out in court, she said: “The abuse I experienced throughout my relationship with Josh has had a profound and lasting impact on every aspect of my life.
Living in a constant environment of fear, intimidation and emotional abuse left me feeling trapped, anxious, and emotionally exhausted on a daily basis.
“I spent so much time walking on egg shells, constantly trying to avoid arguments, aggression of further abuse.
I was always worried about when the next incident would happen and what I could do to prevent it.
Over time I lost my sense of self and no longer recognised the person I had become.
“The abuse affected my confidence, my mental wellbeing and my basic sense of safety.
I felt isolated, controlled and emotionally worn down.
There were many times I felt powerless, as though I no longer had control over my own thoughts, feelings or life.
“The emotional impact did not end when the relationship ended as I continue to struggle with anxiety, panic, flashbacks and difficulty trusting others.
"The trauma caused by this abuse is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
I don’t believe I will ever fully be the same person again.
“His controlling behaviour gradually isolated me from certain friends and people I was close to.
Over time I felt pressured to distance myself from relationships that were important to me which left me feeling along and emotionally dependent on him.
“To experience this abuse at such a young age has had a profound impact on me emotionally and psychologically – at a time in my life where I should have felt safe and focused on my future.
Instead, I found myself dealing with fear, violence, anxiety and trauma that no person should have to deal with.”
