Abuser who left woman with life-changing injuries jailed for 16 years

A man who left a woman with life-changing injuries after throwing a kettle of boiling water over her has been jailed for 16 years.

Michael Fitzgerald (27/08/1977) of Lamb Close, Longsight, was jailed today (23 April 2020) at Manchester Crown Court after being found guilty in February to two counts of grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm after he stabbed a woman with a screwdriver and threw boiling water out of a kettle on her back in August last year.

At around 10.30pm on 10 August 2020, officers were called by colleagues from the ambulance service to a report of a domestic incident on Lamb Close in Longsight.

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES TO FOLLOW

Officers attended and found a woman, 47, in a neighbour's garden with severe burns to her back and arm. It was discovered that the woman had fled to garden to hide from Fitzgerald and rang emergency services.

Officers immediately began to administer first aid whilst another officer spoke with Fitzgerald who denied any knowledge of how the injuries had been inflicted.

However, it was found that following a dispute, Fitzgerald had stabbed the victim in the leg with a screwdriver three times and had then thrown boiling hot water from a kettle all over her back.

Four or five days earlier, Fitzgerald had also assaulted the same woman in the street when he punched and kicked her during an argument causing extensive bruising to her leg.

He was later circulated as wanted and found by officers on 18 August.

In a statement read in court, the victim said: "Never in a million years did I believe for one minute that Michael would do anything like this to me. I can't put into words the agonising pain I felt when the boiling water hit my body. It was the worst pain I have ever felt in my life.

"I look at my back in the mirror and cry when I see what he has done to me. I will never be the same again. I have never felt so much discomfort in all my life and some days I just don't know how I am going to carry on.

"At the moment I have no idea how long I will remain in pain - I can only hope it will improve in time."

Detective Constable Annabel Lewis, from GMP's City of Manchester division, said: "This was an absolutely horrific assault on a woman who has been left with life-changing injuries and shows the extent of domestic abuse that can occur behind closed doors. The woman's burns were so severe that she needed skin grafts.

"This kind of violence will not be tolerated in Greater Manchester. Everyone has the right to go about their lives without the fear of being subjected to harm.

"The victim's bravery in this case has been outstanding since the beginning.

"She has worked with us to ensure that Fitzgerald is brought to justice to also help protect other women from such horrific levels of violence and he will now spend the next 16 years behind bars thinking about his actions."

If you're a victim of domestic abuse, or are concerned about someone you know, please use our online reporting facility or use our LiveChat facility on our website, or call 101. In an emergency that's on-going or life is in danger, always dial 999.

Some victims may not feel comfortable speaking with the police, or may feel they need support to come forward and make a report. Greater Manchester Victims’ Services can provide independent emotional and practical support for anyone affected by crime. You can contact the service by visiting the website on https://www.gmvictims.org.uk/ or calling 0161 200 1950.