Susan Jones and Steven Poland were described as "aggressive and bullying" by the judge
Steven Poland, 45, of Maple Grove, Bromborough
A postwoman who was viciously attacked by a "bully" couple was forced to spend the night shivering in her car after they drove her out of her home.
Patricia Gill was "effectively rendered homeless" after being battered by her landlord Steven Poland, 45, and his girlfriend Susan Jones, 52, on the night of January 22, 2022. The pair had spent the day drinking heavily, and called on Miss Gill to let them into the house, where the three of them sat up socialising.
But things took a nasty turn when Poland, who had made unwanted sexual advances towards Miss Gill in the past, "rubbed Miss Gill's leg twice and made a seductive face towards her". She then decided to tell Jones, 52, what her boyfriend had done.
Prosecutor Simon Leong told Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, December 14: "This angered Jones, who responded by hitting Miss Gill in the face. Miss Gill stumbled back out of her chair and Jones then pinned her against the wall and carried on slapping her. Poland came over and punched Miss Gill to the face, chest and arms.
"Miss Gill blacked out and woke up on her feet in the hall. Jones was smacking her in the face again. Poland stated 'I've never hit a woman' before slapping Miss Gill so hard that she saw stars, her lip began bleeding and she fell back into the living room hitting her back on the coffee table."
Miss Gill said: "I suffered a bruised cheek, a cut lip, my eyes bruised over. I could feel pain all over my head. My back was also highly bruised. Both my eyes were blackened. The injuries caused completely changed my appearance. I had to take a month off work, and due to the attack happening where I was living at the time, I had to move out within the space of an hour.
"After the incident I feared for my safety. I work as a postwoman and worry I might bump into Poland or Jones. That night I feared they could have killed me. I often wonder if they planned to do this to me."
The court heard Miss Gill was "essentially rendered homeless" and forced to sleep in her car following the attack, and "had to grovel to get back into the house to get her belongings".
Jones, of May Close in Litherland, and Poland, of Maple Grove in Bromborough, both denied assault, but were found guilty following a trial last month, and appeared for sentence on Thursday.
Judge Richard Conley said: "The incident occurred after you both went to an Everton football match and, as seems to be the custom, you used the occasion to get blind drunk, most of the day - some 13 or 14 hours - drinking. You returned home, Miss Gill let you in and the three of you sat up drinking for a time.
"It's no secret that all three of you had your demands when it comes to alcohol and it's clear alcohol played a significant part in what happened that night, and may have affected your behaviour. However, one thing is clear. During the course of the evening festivities you, Poland, continued to behave inappropriately towards Miss Gill by rubbing her leg. Miss Gill had the audacity to make her feelings known and reveal the truth of your behaviour, perhaps in the hope that would bring the behaviour to an end.
"What happened was you both turned on her in a very aggressive and bullying way. You didn't believe her, or if you did you chose to ignore what she was saying, and she was subjected to vile, personal, nasty verbal abuse, and that eventually escalated into physical violence. One sickening feature was the apparent glee you exhibited when you struck Miss Gill a powerful blow to the face, causing her to see stars.