Farnworth 'monster' threatened to stab pregnant girlfriend

Michael Leonard repeatedly turned up at his pregnant victim’s home, refused to let her go out, assaulted her and threatened to stab her.

Leonard, of Barton Road, Farnworth, was yesterday jailed for three years at Preston Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to harassment, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and possessing cannabis.

The couple separated last September following a two-and-a-half months relationship. The victim ended it because she felt Leonard was too intense.

Initially, she kept in touch with him, but that stopped when social services told her there had been problems with his previous partner.

Sue Carter, prosecuting, said Leonard seemed to agree with her decision to end contact and said he understood why. But in November, he turned up at her home in Blackpool and shouted at her.

Leonard turned up again later that month and grabbed her round the throat. The prosecution said she gave up asking him to leave as each time he would lock the doors and take the keys away.

On another occasion, he snatched a phone from her hand and stamped on the side of her stomach.

She was three months pregnant at the time and Leonard allegedly laughed when she said he would hurt her or the baby.

Mrs Carter said he threatened his ex-partner with a knife five times by placing it on her stomach.

In a victim impact statement she spoke of him making her feel worthless and now had no trust in men at all. She described herself being unable to go out alone, even though she knows he is in custody.

When he was arrested, Leonard was abusive and aggressive towards a woman police officer, who he threatened to rape.

Julie Taylor, defending, said: “He accepts that his behaviour was appalling. In his letter to the court, he describes himself as a monster towards her.

“He can offer no real explanation, other than he was going through a very stressful situation in his life and he unfortunately took it out on her.”