KNOWLE MAN WHO PHYSICALLY ABUSED WOMAN AND PUNCHED POLICE OFFICER IS JAILED
A man from Knowle was convicted of physically and verbally assaulting a woman and unlawfully sharing intimate photographs of her on the internet.After confessing his shame to a judge, the judge responded: "You should be, you should be deeply ashamed." O'Reilly, aged 36 and residing on Carlow Road, pled guilty to numerous charges, including abusive conduct, two counts of exposing private images, assault causing actual bodily harm, criminal damage, and two counts of assaulting emergency personnel.
Judge Martin Picton sentenced him to 45 months in prison and told him: "This is a grave situation, and you have committed serious crimes that caused significant suffering to your brave victim, who is present in court today.
It is appropriate for you to feel shame, and to be deeply ashamed." Additionally, O'Reilly received a five-year restraining order prohibiting contact with the complainant and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge.
Prosecutor Susan Cavender told Bristol Crown Court that O'Reilly had subjected the woman to both verbal and physical abuse.
His violence extended to abusing her personally and to the malicious sharing of private photos, which left her feeling violated.
O'Reilly admitted to assaulting her, resulting in bruising around her left eye, as well as damaging windows at her residence.
Upon arrest, he was intoxicated and physically violent, punching a police officer, headbutting another, and requiring PAVA spray to be applied.
The victim read an impact statement in court, expressing feelings of insecurity and violation, and described ongoing reminders of O'Reilly’s actions.
Her words included: "I am doing this for myself and my child, because I am me, and I refuse to be abused anymore." Defense attorney Robert Morgan-Jones noted that during discussions with probation officers, O'Reilly demonstrated some awareness and had completed courses while in custody.
He described O'Reilly's conduct as "a greenshoot that can be nurtured," acknowledging that it was "very late" in the process but emphasizing that O'Reilly was "thoroughly ashamed" of what he had done.
