'Paranoid' man subjected his girlfriend to prolonged attack at their home in Leeds after inhaling butane gas

A man subjected his partner to a prolonged violent attack at their home in Leeds during a paranoid state after becoming addicted to inhaling butane gas.
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A court heard Eoghan Shiels became addicted to abusing the gas as he felt isolated during the lockdown period.

Shiels, 35, was jailed for 15 months after a court heard how he attacked the woman on three occasions on July 17 this year.

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Becky Jane, prosecuting, said Shiels had been in a relation with the victim for three and a half years at the time of the incident.

Leeds Crown CourtLeeds Crown Court
Leeds Crown Court
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The prosecutor said the phone call made Shiels paranoid and he thought that his family were trying to track him.

The defendant's partner tried to leave their home later in the evening but Shiels would not let her.

Shiels attacked her again a short time later by throwing her to the floor and kneeing her in the face.

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He then pulled her hair and threw her under the bathroom sink.

A third attack took place at 9pm when he caused her to suffer cuts to her head.

Ms Jane said: "The complainant says the defendant was inhaling butane gas and showing signs of paranoia.

"He thought the complainant and his family were trying to set him up."

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Shiels made the victim and go upstairs clean her wounds and watch a film.

She contacted police in the early hours of the morning when her partner fell asleep on the sofa.

He calmed down when the officers threatened to use spray to detain him.

An ambulance was called and the victim was taken to Leeds General Infirmary with head wounds.

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Shiels, now of no fixed address, made no comment when interviewed and was remanded in custody.

He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of common assault.

Shiels has previous conviction for violence, including assaults on the same woman in 2018 and 2019.

Shiels was also given a three-year sentence in 2014 for an attack on his twin brother.

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Peter Byrne, mitigating, said Shiels pleaded guilty to the offences at an early stage.

Mr Byrne said the victim had forgiven Shiels for what he had done.

She provided a statement to the court describing how she believes he needs treatment to prevent him from committing violent offences in the future.

She stated: "He has just never had or been shown how to resolve issues without aggression."

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Mr Byrne said Shiels' addiction to butane gas became worse while he was feeling isolated during lockdown.

Sentencing, Judge Neil Clark said: "You believed that your family were trying to track you.

"You were displaying a degree of paranoia brought on by the misuse of gas."