A cruel brute told his girlfriend to 'say goodbye' to her children as he threatened to slit her throat, a court heard.
Michael Maher beat up, verbally abused and threatened his former partner in a vicious 'campaign of domestic violence'. In February last year, he spat at her, pulled her from the sofa by her hair, bit her finger and tore at her clothing in a horrific attack.
On another occasion he called her and threatened to kill her, before smashing up belongings inside her home including precious photographs of her children. Maher's victim was left 'petrified' and now 'suffers on a daily basis', the court was told.
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The 31-year-old, from Ashton-under-Lyne, was jailed at Minshull Street Crown Court yesterday (March 20) following his campaign of terror. The court heard how the Maher, a dad-of-one, and the victim had begun their relationship in May 2021, but it deteriorated over claims he was being controlling.
John Kennerley, prosecuting, said: "On February 8 last year, the defendant turned up at the victim's house after he had been drinking, became abusive towards her and she broke down in tears. He spat at her whilst she was sat on the sofa, pulled her to the floor by her hair and kicked her on the leg.
"He also pulled her shirt causing it to rip and causing marks around her neck and he also bit her little finger. A 999 call was made but the defendant made off when he heard police sirens on the way.
"The victim decided to leave the address and move out because she was concerned about his violence but the following day she got an abusive phone call from the defendant. He was calling her a 's**g' and during another call he said: 'I'm going to slit your throat. Say goodbye to your kids - you're not going to see them again.'
"He then rang her again saying he had been round to be her home and smashed a window and taken the TV and was stood on her kids' pictures. It seems the defendant had used a brick to smash the ground floor bedroom window and smashed various items in the house and ripped cushions.
"He later contacted her again saying he was going to slit her throat and sent her messages saying 'hope you die'."
Maher initially denied wrongdoing after he was arrested. The court heard he had also threatened to 'batter' a close friend of the victim who had been trying to help her.
The defendant had 76 previous offences on his record, including a 2019 breach of a non molestation order and in 2021 for common assault against a different ex-girlfriend.
At the time of committing the offences, he was serving a community order for theft and fraud, the court was told. In mitigation defence, Joshua Bowker said: "He accepts his behaviour was unacceptable and that he ought to have behaved in a completely different manner. He accepts the relationship is over."
In a statement, the victim said: "His behaviour has messed up my mental health and I have been suffering on a daily basis. I am petrified of him and feel overwhelmed by what happened."
Maher, of Burlington Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, admitted common assault, harassment, burglary, criminal damage and sending malicious communications.
Sentencing, Judge Bernadette Baxter told him: "This was a campaign of domestic violence against your then partner. You verbally abused her, spat at her, pulled off her off the sofa by her hair, kicked her and tore her clothing and bit her little finger.
"This was a brutal attack which if it stood alone is serious enough but you continued to make phone calls to her, threatening her with awful violence. She had to vacate her home but you then deliberately targeted it so you could damage things that were precious to her.
"I don't accept you are genuinely sorry for all this because your behaviour in the past illustrates this is what you do. You have failed to remedy your behaviour."
Maher was jailed for three years and four months. He was also made subject of a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim for ten years.
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