LIVERPOOL MAN JAILED FOR 43 MONTHS IN VIOLENT ASSAULT ON EX
A violent former partner, who repeatedly assaulted the mother of his children and asked her, “Why did you make me do this to you?”, has been sentenced to prison following a prolonged attack that left her battered, bruised, and psychologically scarred.During the court hearing, it was revealed that Mark Shiels, aged 33, carried out an extended assault on his ex-partner over several hours, despite being under a restraining order that explicitly prohibited any contact with her.
The court learned that the couple had a tumultuous relationship spanning roughly six years, during which they had two children.
On the night of November 22 last year, the woman arrived at Shiels’ residence in St Helens, only to be met with hostility.
Prosecutors stated that Shiels became angry when he noticed a mark on her neck and accused her of infidelity, which quickly led to violence.
After drinking together, Shiels attacked his partner multiple times—hitting her, resulting in a bleeding lip, kicking her, and repeatedly stopping her from leaving.
When she tried to escape, he pursued her into shared parts of the building and continued the assault.
The violence persisted throughout the night.
At one point, after they returned to Shiels’ flat, he took her mobile phone, broke it in half, and threw her onto the bed.
While holding her down and striking her again, he questioned, “Why did you make me do this to you?” The woman was eventually able to get away and contacted emergency services from a phone booth.
In a victim impact statement presented in court, she detailed the emotional and psychological scars inflicted by the abuse.
She disclosed that she had previously missed her eldest daughter’s 18th birthday due to injuries sustained from an earlier assault by Shiels, which left her with a black eye and facial swelling.
“I have nightmares because of what he’s done to me,” she stated.
“I wake up crying, haunted by vivid images of him attacking me.” She also explained that the abuse affected all four of her children and caused her to fear returning to locations associated with Shiels.
“I’m scared of Mark and I don’t want to see him again,” she told the court.
“I don’t think I will ever be the same.
It may take many years to recover, if I ever do.” The court was informed that Shiels has a lengthy record of prior convictions for violent crimes.
Earlier this year, he was already imprisoned and subject to a restraining order following incidents involving the same woman.
Although he pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm, criminal damage, and breaching the restraining order, the judge emphasized that the gravity of the offence warranted a significant custodial sentence.
He sentenced Shiels to 43 months in prison, describing the attack as “appalling and persistent.” “She was terrified you might kill her,” said Recorder Ben Lawrence.
“This prolonged assault occurred even though there was a restraining order in place, and you were forbidden from contacting her.” The judge highlighted the profound impact on the victim, noting her ongoing trauma, nightmares, and fear.
He also pointed out that Shiels repeatedly prevented her from leaving during the incident.
Shiels will serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for release.
Additionally, he was issued a new restraining order barring him from reaching out to the victim for the next ten years.
