A man who beat his ex-partner told her he wasn't going to stop until she was dead.

Barry Peter Purcell, aged 28, of Duke Street, Bolton, is now behind bars after he was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court after being convicted of harassment, witness intimidation, battery, malicious communication and criminal damage, as well as aggravated vehicle taking.

Callum Ross, prosecuting, told the court how, on August 12 last year, Purcell appeared at the home of the mother of his child and proceeded to beat her, hitting, spitting at her and even attempting to bite her.

The court heard Purcell said to his victim: “You deserve to be hit with a hammer and I’m not going to stop until you’re dead.”

After the attack, the victim blocked him on social media to stop him being able to send threatening messages, but he created new social media accounts to message or attempt to message her.

An example of one such message is: “You’re both getting it, the child is going into care.”

Read more: Bolton's most wanted — June 8, 2022

He also threatened to distribute sexually explicit photographs of her.

Purcell then repeatedly threatened the victim on February 19 this year, shouting at her about him being charged with offences.

Mr Ross said the Purcell told his ex-partner “Watch what happens if you don’t drop the charges, you’ll see” and threatened that he would make sure she lost her daughter.

She applied for a restraining order on Purcell.

Mr Ross also read out a witness statement about the aggravated vehicle taking charge.

A former friend detailed how in April 2021, she drove herself and Purcell in her car to an address in Ainsdale, Southport, along with her six-year-old son.

She was aware that Purcell had been drinking alcohol since around 1,30pm, with them arriving at the address at around 7:30pm.

She got out to speak to the occupant of the address and Purcell, now sat in the driver’s seat, turned the engine on and drove off up the residential street with her son still in the car, ‘zig-zagging’ and apparently reaching speeds of up to 70mph, not slowing down for speed bumps.

He then turned and drove back down the street, again hitting speed bumps, to the point where the boy hit his head on the windscreen, and was taken to Ormskirk Hopsital. He sustained no serious injuries.

After the incident, the mum of the six-year-old applied for a restraining order on Purcell.

Rory McCormack, defending, made no objections to the evidence presented by Mr Ross.

Purcell had previously been convicted of the aggravated vehicle taking charge and the charges of harassment, intimidation of a witness and battery at Manchester Magistrates Court.

These cases were sent to Bolton Crown Court for sentencing.

Recorder of Bolton, Judge Martin Walsh said: “The charge of battery is somewhat surprising, that it is an offence of battery, not an offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

“The victim did sustain some injury and there was significant violence.” Purcell was jailed for 12 months and banned from driving for four years.

Two restraining orders were granted for four years each.