man jailed for four years after attack on ex-girlfriend was caught on doorbell camera

Thomas Jennings (right) punched his girlfriend even as she shouted,‘stop’ (Picture: Liverpool Echo)

Thomas Jennings,a man with ties to a local gang who was caught on camera attacking his girlfriend,has been jailed.

Jennings,30,shattered Paula Richardson’s eye socket in the middle of Harbreck Grove in Aintree, Liverpool,on March 31.

Jennings,of no fixed address but from Walton,kicked Paula two times and struck her with a mobile phone at around 11.15am.

Ring Doorbell footage captured Paula screaming,‘stop’,as he punched her before knocking her unconscious

Jennings left Paula lying in the street and told a witness as he stormed off: ‘If you filmed me,I’ll f****** burn your house down.’

She was taken to Aintree Hospital’s A&E department with facial injuries,including a gash to the head and a fractured jaw,which required surgery.

The incident was captured by a Ring Doorbell camera (Picture: Liverpool Echo)

He has ties to a gang,the court was told (Picture: Liverpool Echo)

Liverpool Crown Court heard earlier this month that Jennings has 36 previous convictions for 64 offences,it can now be reported.

This includes a 34-month sentence for possession of class A drugs with intent to supply at Preston Crown Court in 2014,as well as 16 months for a domestic assault in 2018.

He was sentenced to 92 months for firearms offences in 2020,relating to a tit-for-tat gangland shooting involving the Kirkstone Riot Squad.

The gang,named after Kirkstone Road North in Litherland,operates in Bootle,Seaforth and Litherland.

Jennings supplied a gun used in a shooting intended for James Foy,an associate. Foy later fatally shot bystander Mikey Rainsford,20,during a stand-off between the Kirkstone Riot Squad and a rival gang.

On this,Recorder Mark Bradshaw said: ‘It occurred while you were on licence for the weapons offences,leading to your second recall on those offences.

‘I have regard to your significant mental health issues due to the passing of your mother.’

Julian Nutter,defending,said: ‘We have a defendant here who has suffered mental health issues over a number of years,which may or may not have been drug-related.

‘We have a defendant who,for the first time,has been demonstrating remorse and has put forward an apology for what he has done. He is deeply ashamed of what he did to this lady. That is the first step on the road to reform,and he has taken it.

‘What we have seen,there cannot be any excuse for. What he asked me to do is to repeat his apology,and that is the start of a very long path.’

Jennings was sentenced to four years,with an extended licence period of three years.

The judge said: ‘This incident happened in the street in broad daylight. The footage we have all seen is,frankly,chilling.

‘It appears that very little happened before you simply,without hesitation,struck her repeatedly to the head and face with a mobile phone used as a weapon.

‘After she fell to the ground,you delivered two kicks to the head,the last of which rendered her unconscious. You then simply walked away. It was,in my judgement,a cowardly attack.

‘It is plain that the consequences could have been far worse. It is fortunate for you that they were not.’