Abuser beat ex whose dark past she uncovered

Wigan and Leigh magistrates heard that Amy Riley was drinking in a Skelmersdale pub with friends when her ex, Lewis Beckett, walked in and, without any provocation, punched and slapped her.

He stormed out of the bar, but then returned a short time later to drench her with a pint of cider.

Ms Riley was then subjected to abusive calls and texts from Beckett, who turned up at her home and banged on her door.

Police were called on the night and Beckett was arrested.

The hearing was told that the 28-year-old defendant, of Enstone, Skelmersdale, had been in a relationship with Ms Riley but it ended in August after a Clare’s Law disclosure revealed he had a history of violence against women.

Clare’s Law is also known as the The Domestic Abuse Disclosure Scheme and was brought into force after the death of Clare Wood, who was killed in 2009 by an ex-partner who, unbeknownst to her, had been a serial domestic abuser. It allows people to check up on partners’ criminal violence pasts.

Beckett pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by beating and to breaching a conditional discharge given by Manchester magistrates in June 2017.

Justices sentenced Beckett to an 18-month community order which requires him to attend a programme to improve relationships, and imposed an eight-week curfew enforced between the hours of 7pm and 7am.