Judge 'sorry' after second partner abused by teen

A judge has apologised for giving a teenage domestic abuser a chance after he went on to "appallingly" torment a second girlfriend.

Ben Grenfell was 17 when he subjected his then-girlfriend to a campaign of control and violence which culminated with him driving his car at her and assaulting her stepfather, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

After hearing of Grenfell's mental health difficulties and the support being offered by his family, Judge Tim Gittins deferred sentence to give the teenager a chance to change.

But within months Grenfell was attacking and stalking a new girlfriend. Sentencing him, Judge Gittins said: "I apologise to your second victim because I put her in harm's way."

Grenfell, 19, admitted nine offences and was sentenced to two years' detention.

The teenager, from Burnopfield, County Durham, assaulted his first girlfriend several times between August and November 2023 and then harassed her to get back with him for two months, Judge Gittins said, including using threats to release intimate images of her.

When she refused because of his "controlling behaviour", he drove his car at her outside a pub and then attacked her stepfather and smashed the man's windscreen.

In February last year, Grenfell admitted offences including assault, dangerous driving and criminal damage, but Judge Gittins deferred sentencing him.

The judge said he made that decision based on a medical report describing Grenfell's mental health struggles, which were exacerbated by the teenager's use of alcohol and drugs, and pleas from the offender's family.

Judge Gittins said there was "hope and expectation" that Grenfell would get the medical help he needed and use the opportunity of working for his father's plumbing business to become a "law-abiding member of the community".

But just months later Grenfell started a relationship with a new girlfriend which quickly turned violent, abusive and controlling, the court heard.

Prosecutor Jordan Parkinson said Grenfell first attacked her on 6 July, slapping and punching her, dragging her by the hair and making her drive him around even as her eye was swelling closed.

The woman ended the relationship and blocked him on social media, but several weeks later Grenfell contacted her using fake profiles to say he was sorry and was getting mental health support.

She was "manipulated" into resuming their relationship but he again became aggressive and controlling, regularly flying into "jealous" rages culminating with him repeatedly slapping her on 14 October because he felt she had taken too long having a shower, Ms Parkinson said.

The pair again broke up but he bombarded her with messages, many threatening and abusive, and repeatedly rang her work place until police were finally informed.

In a statement read to the court, the woman said she changed herself in an effort to make Grenfell happy, stopped seeing her friends and gave him access to her phone, because she feared what he would do to her.

She said she was "walking on eggshells" around him and lied to friends and family about what had caused the injuries he inflicted to protect him.

The woman said she had believed Grenfell to be "genuine and decent" but now realised he was an "extremely dangerous" abuser, while the violent behaviour he claimed were "mental health episodes" was actually his real self.

After hearing of the major impact Grenfell had had on the woman, Judge Gittins told him: "I very much regret giving you the outstanding opportunity that I did and I apologise to your second victim because I put her in harm's way."

The judge said Grenfell had behaved "appallingly" and needed to "learn a lesson very quickly" that that was "not how you treat anyone, let someone you profess to care for".

Grenfell admitted assault, coercive behaviour and stalking causing fear of violence.

Restraining orders banning him from contacting either of the two women or referring to them on social media were also made to last for 10 years.

Grenfell was also banned from driving for three years.

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