A bullying boyfriend has left his now former partner a "shell" of her former self after committing two vicious assaults including stubbing a lit cigarette out on her.
On another occasion, Fethi Chebbi dragged his victim by the hair so violently that her extensions were torn from her head. A judge at Liverpool Crown Court found him to be a risk to women as sentenced him to prison yesterday.
In response to his sentence, Chebbi could be heard shouting that it was a "joke" while he was escorted to the cells. Zhara Baqri, prosecuting, said the man, who is originally from Tunisia but had been living in Eastham, had been in a relationship with his victim for two and a half years, Liverpool Echo reports.
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She noted how Chebbi became aggressive and insecure shortly after he moved in with his then partner, quickly becoming a bully. She also described how his behaviour became significantly worse when he was drunk - in July 2020 he attacked his partner after drinking.
Ms Baqri said: “His mood changed for the worse and she recalls being held down, during which time he burned a cigarette into the skin on her left wrist. While he did this he asked her if she wanted to feel pain. He then stubbed the cigarette out on her.”
A few months later, on October 10, 2020, Chebbi acted out again when visiting a pub with the victim and her mother. He became angry after the woman did not go to bed when he did, bursting into a fit of rage.
Ms Baqri said: “He came down and flipped the coffee table over, causing all the glasses on it to smash. He then took a mobile phone she had in her hand and snapped it in half. It was in fact her mother’s phone. Whilst so doing he accused her of being unfaithful, took her by the hair and dragged her around the room.
"He did that with such force her hair extensions were ripped out. He then rained multiple slaps and punches on her.” While the victim managed to call the police with her phone, Chebbi quickly bent her fingers back to tear the mobile phone from her.
Upon realising police would soon be rushing on the scene, Chebbi fled. It was only six weeks later that he was arrested. Initially, he pleaded guilty to criminal damage for the breaking of the phone while denying the assaults on the woman until the day of his trial, where he pleaded guilty.
In a statement to the court, she said she had been left “a shell” of the person she was before and was now more anxious and less trustworthy. The woman added that Chebbi's actions led to the "darkest and most painful period" of her life.
David Polglase, defending, said he now accepted he was the instigator of the attack. He said: “His instruction to me is that he does not seek to blame her. His position is aggravated by use of alcohol. Being intoxicated does not help him, it aggravates his position. He says to me he has done wrong, he accepts that.”
The judge, Recorder Michael Blakey, said probation reports made clear Chebbi posed risks to women in his life and said his actions had a long-lasting effect on his victim.
Recorder Blakey said: “It seems to me that what you did to that lady was inexcusable and cowardly and the impact statement that was read out on her behalf illustrates what effect it has had on her and presumably continues to have on her.”
Chebbi, of Argyle Street, Birkenhead, was jailed for 20 months. He was silent as the judge passed the sentence but as he walked towards the door that leads from the dock to the cells he shouted that it was “a joke”.
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