A MONSTER with a history of violence inflicted horrific injuries on a woman which left her fearing for her life.

Adam Lewis led a campaign of abuse towards his vulnerable victim which isolated her from her friends and family.

He left her with a catalogue of injuries – including a laceration to a vital organ and fractures to her nose and ribs – while displaying a pattern of controlling and coercive behaviour.

The shocking extent of Lewis’ actions was laid bare before Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, which ended with the 32-year-old being given a lengthy jail term.

Prosecutor Anya Horwood explained to the court how the victim met the defendant through mutual friends in the summer and described him as her ‘prince charming’ – someone who she believed was ‘a gentleman’.

But he soon started to behave possessively and controlling, stopping her from using social media and even snapping her phone in half, which isolated her from family and friends.

His aggressive nature heightened in August, when he grabbed her by the throat and kicked her in the head, leaving her with a black eye and blood pouring from her broken nose.

On August 23 she visited his flat on invitation, where he subjected her to cruel violence lasting the next two days.

When he finally left the flat, she managed to escape and got in a taxi. The driver noticed her limp, serious facial injuries and the blood on her jeans and called the police.

The victim was shocked after learning the extent of her injuries after being referred to Warrington Hospital, but initially told police they were self-inflicted due to her fear of Lewis.

However, she bravely decided to reveal to officers the true extent of the ordeal which Lewis had put her through.

As well as punching, kicking and strangling her, he cruelly threatened to stab her with a screwdriver, left her thighs permanently scarred after piercing her jeans with a flick knife and cut chunks from her hair.

Police found traces of her hair and blood in Lewis’ flat and he was charged with GBH, ABH and false imprisonment – offences he pleaded guilty to and committed while on licence.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Liverpool Crown Court

A statement prepared by the victim read: “I cannot understand why he did this to me, as there was no reason to do so. I feared for my life.

“The scars will be a permanent reminder of what he did. I’ve lost friends as he kept me from them and my relationship with my family is badly affected as he pushed them away.

“I’ve lost my independence and the confidence to even leave the house.”

Ms Horwood revealed how Lewis had 15 previous convictions for 30 offences, many of which involve violence towards women.

In 2013, he was witnessed pushing his partner of two years over in public and had to be restrained by passers-by.

In 2016, he was convicted of battery and ABH after pinning his then partner against a wall, punching her in the head and ribs and threatening to torture her all night.

Mike Scholes, defending, asked the court to allow his client to remain at HMP Altcourse rather than being transferred so he could continue to receive treatment for his issues.

He added that his client was ‘badly affected’ by the death of a relative as a child and by having to witness violence growing up, but said he is finding treatment in prison helpful.

Judge John Benson branded Lewis as someone who presents a serious risk to females in the future before handing down his sentence.

He said: “Your victim referred to you as someone she considered to be a prince charming, unknown to her that you had a much more sinister side.

“A side accentuated not just by these facts, but by a number of other appearances before the court for serious violence towards women which bear striking resemblance.

“Over the course of the month, you beat her black and blue. Your behaviour was cruel and demeaning. The fact that she said the wounds were self-inflicted speaks volumes about her fear.”

Lewis was sentenced to 11 years in prison with an extended licence period of four years and ordered to comply with an indefinite restraining order forbidding him to contact his victim.

If you are suffering from domestic abuse, help is available through the free, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.