KIERAN MOUNTFORD SENTENCED IN STOKE-ON-TRENT FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ABUSE

Kieran Mountford, a man from Stoke-on-Trent, has been handed a prison sentence of three years and ten months after a court found him guilty of multiple acts of domestic violence and abuse. The court proceedings laid bare the extent of Mountford's violent and controlling behavior towards two women over a span of several years. It was revealed that his abusive actions began when one of his victims was only 15 years old, marking a disturbing pattern of emotional and physical abuse that persisted over time.

Mountford's violent conduct included severe physical assaults such as punching and strangulation, alongside more subtle forms of control, including checking the victims' phones without permission. One of the women suffered injuries so serious that she was hospitalized, with visible signs of trauma including black eyes and temporary visual impairment caused by his assault. The court also heard that Mountford's violence extended beyond human victims, as he cruelly threw a puppy against a wall, an act that further demonstrated his violent tendencies.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Robert Smith described Mountford's behavior as both controlling and coercive. The judge noted that his conduct escalated rapidly from shouting and intimidation to outright violence, illustrating a pattern of escalating aggression. Despite Mountford's diagnosis of ADHD and acknowledgment of a difficult upbringing, Judge Smith emphasized that the severity of his actions warranted a custodial sentence to protect the victims and the wider community.

Mountford admitted guilt to charges including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, strangulation, and coercive control over two victims. It was also revealed that he was serving a suspended sentence at the time of these offenses, which compounded the seriousness of his actions. His legal representative highlighted his mental health issues and history of substance abuse, attempting to provide context for his behavior. However, the judge was clear in condemning Mountford's conduct, underscoring the importance of imprisonment as a necessary measure to safeguard society and prevent further harm.