The Judge told him: ‘I gave you a chance and it seems that you have taken it and are doing well.’
Liam McKenzie admitted breaching a 10-year restraining order on October 12 last year(Image: Hull Live)
A controlling bully who made his girlfriend’s life a “misery” – causing her to “change her behaviour” and stop wearing makeup and certain clothes – has been spared prison. Liam McKenzie breached a restraining order shortly after it was made – and the breach came only months after he was given a chance to avoid being locked up, Hull Crown Court heard.
Liam McKenzie, 43, of Bacheler Street, west Hull, admitted breaching a 10-year restraining order on October 12 last year. It had been made on August 13 last year after he admitted using controlling and coercive behaviour between June 1, 2022 and January 8 last year as well as causing criminal damage on January 5 last year.
Amber Hobson, prosecuting, told a hearing on November 21 that police were alerted to an ongoing incident after the woman called the police. McKenzie was with her in the house, in breach of the terms of the restraining order.
During police interview, he made no comment to all questions. “It was clearly a deliberate breach,” said Miss Hobson. McKenzie had convictions for 46 previous offences, including theft.
He was in breach of a two-year suspended prison sentence, with 26 sessions of a probation service domestic abuse programme and 20 days’ rehabilitation, that had been imposed in August last year. Breaching the restraining order put him in breach of that.
Sentencing had, at the November hearing, been deferred for six months for McKenzie to prove that he could stay out of trouble. At a resumed hearing, the court was told that there had been no further problems.
Hannah Turner, mitigating, said that an application had been made in January for the restraining order to be removed and this had been granted. McKenzie had been doing “remarkably well” and there had been a “huge change” in him.
At the earlier hearing, Miss Turner said that McKenzie had been living with his brother in Peterborough. “He has moved out of the area to remove himself from negative influences and temptation,” said Miss Turner. He had taken steps to work on his problems.
Judge John Thackray KC told McKenzie: “I gave you a chance and it seems that you have taken it and are doing well. Should there be any further offending by you, bearing in mind your record, you are likely to receive a significant custodial sentence.
McKenzie was given five days’ rehabilitation and he was fined £50. At the original hearing in August, the court was told that McKenzie – previously known as Stephen Hardy – and the woman began talking on Facebook in May and June 2022 and they formed a relationship.
McKenzie later moved into her flat and started working at a gym. He told her to come to the gym with him but he accused a male colleague of flirting with her and “locking eyes” with her.
He also kept video calling her and questioning her about whether she had somebody in the flat. He accused her of looking at people from the flat even though nobody was there. McKenzie asked her “why she was getting done up for work” and who she was working with. She felt she had to change her behaviour.
She stopped applying makeup and stopped wearing certain clothes to appease him. McKenzie accused her of looking at people in another flat and having an affair with another person at the gym.
He told her: “I am leaving you. You have been sleeping with other people. I have seen you.” His controlling behaviour continued.
She began to record incidents on her phone. Arguments continued. He accused her of cheating. She woke up and found that McKenzie was going through her phone. He would scream and shout.
McKenzie threw objects around the flat and he would “kick off” if she went with her friends. The relationship continued until January 5 last year when she left him. A couple of days later, he damaged equipment that she had bought for her beauty business.
To find all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more, visit the Public Notices Portal.