Fool Me Once, Shame On You...

A woman beater spared jail after choking his partner turned up drunk for his 'Building Better Relationships' course.

Yeah, you guessed it: Liverpool.

Liverpool Crown Court heard he had 24 previous convictions for 43 offences during a sentencing hearing on July 12 last year.

But he walked free after defence lawyers said he had already served the equivalent of a nine-month jail sentence on remand.

He was supported by Miss Ellis, who declined to give a victim statement, said she loved him, and sat with his parents in court.

On that occasion, Judge Andrew Menary, QC, gave Devereux "a final chance" to address his alcoholism and underlying issues.

And how did that go? Reader, it went as you'd expect:

However, the court today, January 7, heard he "behaved in an unacceptable manner" at a probation centre just days later on July 18 - when he was warned about his conduct - and again on October 16.

The yob then skipped further probation appointments on November 18 and December 16, over which he failed to give "a reasonable excuse".

Martyn Walsh, prosecuting, said the 150 hours of unpaid work was removed last August, after an application was made by the thug's lawyers, saying he would struggle to complete it.

Removed? Replaced with anything? Or just 'Ah, OK, we'll scrap that'?

Devereux today admitted breaching the suspended sentence, but asked for yet another chance to turn his life around.

*speechless*

Julian Nutter, defending....

SNORK!

....said his client now had an appointment scheduled at Clock View Hospital's mental health clinic in Walton tomorrow.

Well, I expect he has. But he seems to have difficulty actually attending them...

Judge Menary said: "I gave you an opportunity then. Sadly, you haven't taken it."

He activated the suspended sentence and jailed Devereux for 20 months.

Which he won't serve in full, no doubt.