Six hour ordeal of Clitheroe woman locked in house (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Six hour ordeal of Clitheroe woman locked in house

12:41pm Friday 27th May 2011 in Blackburn

A 19-YEAR-OLD Clitheroe man kept his estranged partner locked in her house for nearly six hours as he repeatedly quizzed her about a new relationship.

Blackburn magistrates heard during the incident Jonathan O’Neill smashed the television.

His victim’s ordeal came to an end when he threw a cold cup of coffee over her and her baby and then left the house – locking the door.

And she had to call to a passing window cleaner for help because O’Neill had taken her mobile phone.

O’Neill, of Cleveleys Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting Chloe Townsend and Lexa Louise O’Neill, criminal damage to a TV belonging to Chloe Townsend and stealing two mobile phones belonging to her.

He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, made subject to community supervision for 12 months and ordered to pay £305 compensation and £85 costs.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said as soon as he threw the coffee and the baby started to cry O’Neill realised what he was doing and that he was wrong.

“Miss Townsend didn’t call the police when she borrowed the window cleaner’s phone, she called her grandmother It was my client who got the police involved.”