A man ‘pounded’ his former partner with punches before spraying hairspray in his eyes, a court heard.
Liam Corcoran had been in a relationship with the partially sighted man for four years, when he launched the attack after a night out, Manchester Magistrates’ Court was told. The victim said he felt like he was ‘walking on eggshells’ most days, not knowing what mood the 23-year-old would wake up in.
“Some days it was fine, others it was a complete nightmare,” the man said. Things came to a head on September 28 last year when the couple were standing outside a takeaway in the early hours of the morning, following a night out in Manchester city centre.
“The defendant was having a go at him about ‘ruining the night’ before he hit him to the face. There were minimum injuries and the matter was reported to the police,” prosecutor Steve Woodman told the hearing. Days later, on October 6, they had separately returned home from being out in the city centre. On arrival Corcoran began to shout at their dogs, and in turn his former partner told him not to.
Liam Corcoran (23) attacked former partner
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Image:
Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
Corcoran then ‘pinned him to the floor’ and ‘pounded him with punches’, the court heard “The [victim] was struggling to defend him. He was then able to kick out and kicked the defendant in the face to defend himself,” Mr Woodman continued. This made the defendant get off him, but the defendant returned to the room with a canister of hairspray. He then pinned [the victim] onto the bed and sprayed the hairspray into his eye.
“He targeted his eyesight, which was already limited, which made this a personal assault.” The victim said something inside of him ‘flipped’ and he ran at Corcoran in an attempt to rugby tackle him but Corcoran pushed him away. He was left with significant injuries to his face, it was said.
The next day, the man saw messages between Corcoran and his mum, in which he admitted ‘slashing’ him with an electric razor during the attack. The police were called and Corcoran was arrested. He accepted attacking his partner twice and said he had apologised. He also said he was ‘mentally unstable’ at the time. He has since pleaded guilty to assault by beating and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
In a brief victim personal statement, the man said: “This was the most honest I have been able to be in the last five years. I was so afraid, I felt abused financially, physically and mentally over the years and I’m happy never to deal with him again. Mr Woodman said the victim has since retracted the statement, stating he was severely concerned about Corcoran’s wellbeing.
Mitigating for Corcoran, who had no previous convictions, Joseph Foxler said there were ‘two sides to every story’, and that there was ‘no possibility of further problems’ as he had moved on with a new partner “His presentence report writer says he needs help and support. He has now got a settled address, he does have learning difficulties and this sentence has been hanging over his head for a long time,” Mr Foxler said.
Corcoran, of Mill Lane, Wythenshawe, was handed an 18 month community order.
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk. If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk