A Maryport man who slapped, kicked and grabbed his partner by the throat as he attacked her three times in less than a week has been jailed.
Allan Moralee, 39, was branded a violent bully by a Carlisle Crown Court judge today as he was locked up for 32 months for assaulting the woman on December 8, 11 and 13 last year.
On the first occasion, Moralee became angry after stepping on a drop of water which was spilled as the woman prepared milk for her baby’s bottle. He slapped her face with a palm as she cradled a young child in her arms.
Moralee had also grabbed her by the throat, pinning her up against a wall and lifting her up so she was balancing on her toes; and kicked and grabbed her leg.
Three days later he boiled over again. “Because her mother had brought him a bottle of soft drink that wasn’t to his liking,” explained prosecutor Brendan Burke.
Moralee grabbed her by the hair, brandished a bread knife which he vowed to use on others. He bent the implement before striking her in the face with the handle. In addition, he kicking her to the side of her face, causing her nose to bleed.
Moralee lost his temper for a third time two days later, kicking her to the foot and calf, kneeing her in the stomach and writing on her back with a pen he pressed so hard that scratches were left on her skin. While she was having a bath, he deliberately turned the showed water to the highest heat.
The woman fled to a neighbour’s address the next day and the police were alerted. Moralee, of Ellenborough Old Road, Maryport, pleaded guilty to three actual bodily harm assaults. It had been, said Mr Burke, a campaign of violence.
Jeff Smith, defending, said there was remorse from Moralee, who told the judge he was deeply sorry, disputed some aspects of the prosecution case and alleged he had been the victim of violence at the woman’s hands in the past.
But Judge Barker observed the defendant had made a number of outbursts during the sentencing hearing, and sent his victim letters from prison which, the prosecution said, contained self-pity and abuse.
“I am quite satisfied you received gratuitous satisfaction at seeing the fear and distress that you brought to a woman you declared to be in a relationship with,” said the judge.
“She is scared of one thing, Mr Moralee. She is scared of you because you are a violent bully who wishes his wishes his own priorities to prevail. This is a pattern of your behaviour since 2007.”
Moralee — said to have a string of previous convictions for harassment and violence against women — was banned from contacting his latest victim for a decade.
