Window cleaner Joel Verite, who was praised for running to try and save victims during the Southport stabbings, has appeared in court after assaulting his pregnant partner
A man who heroically ran to save victims of the Southport stabbing has appeared in court after he pushed over his pregnant partner.
Window cleaner Joel Verite was on his lunch break on Hart Street in on the day of the Southport stabbings when he ran to help injured victims and “locked eyes” with the attacker. But months later the 27-year-old, said to have been suffering from PTSD in the wake of the horrific knifings which resulted in the deaths of three young girls, assaulted his partner in the presence of his baby daughter. A judge at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court told Verite: “I would have thought going through the dreadful experiences you had would make you less likely to use violence.”
Sarah McInerney, prosecuting, said how Verite and his victim, Freya Aughton-Rimmer, had “been in an on-off relationship for one year”. The court today heard that on October 18 last year the defendant and Ms Aughton-Rimmer had an argument after he had been cropped out of a picture.
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An angry Verite followed the pregnant victim into the kitchen where she was feeding Weetabix to her first-born child and asked if she was in a mood. Ms McInerney told the court the defendant started “shouting and swearing and smacked the bowl of cereal out of her hands, spilling the contents up the wall”.
Ms Aughton-Rimmer asked him to leave the address, but the defendant followed her and asked if he could see his daughter. After the mum of his children said no, the defendant continued up the stairs behind her, pushing her in the back and causing her to fall. The victim escaped upstairs and called Verite’s mum to come and collect him.
Verite admitted common assault and criminal damage but denied assault by beating. The crown accepted at trial that his actions were reckless and he did not intend to hurt Ms Aughton-Rimmer. Ms McInerney told the court the offences were aggravated by the fact the victim was pregnant, it was in a domestic context and in the presence of a child.
However, she added there was no application for a restraining order and Ms Aughton-Rimmer had not provided a victim impact statement. The court heard Verite, from Birkdale, had one previous conviction for assault in 2017 and received a suspended sentence, reports the Liverpool Echo.
In mitigation, Elizabeth Manning, defending, told the court her client had pleaded guilty to some charges so deserved credit. She said during the argument in the build-up to the assault, Verite had been told he couldn’t see his daughter. She added the struggle that followed “was not intentional but reckless”. Ms Manning said Verite wanted to apologise to the court through her and said he deeply regretted his actions.
She said: “The court will be aware of the events of Southport. The defendant was working cleaning windows in the area when he came across a victim before he went into the building and came face to face with the attacker. If not for the defendant there could have been more fatalities.”
The court heard the defendant had been experiencing PTSD causing him to “feel more protective of his own children”. She said Verite had begun to use recreational drugs which had impacted on his mood, but he was now 95 days sober.
Ms Manning added her client had enrolled in a “caring dad programme” and was currently working as a cleaner and a part-time qualified personal trainer. She added: “Being a father is his greatest pride. He is deeply embarrassed.”
Sentencing, District Judge Wendy Lloyd said: “You knew she was pregnant and you lost your temper putting your children at risk.
“What kind of example were you setting that you do not know how to control your temper? You have a relevant conviction. You have been using drugs most days. A domestic violence risk is high.” The judge told Verite “you can’t control yourself” and added: “I would have thought going through the dreadful experiences you had would make you less likely to use violence.”
Verite was sentenced to 20 weeks, suspended for 18 months for criminal damage, common assault and two counts of assault by beating. He was also ordered to carry out 25 rehabilitation days and 180 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £504 in court costs.
Judge Lloyd told him: “You know you have avoided prison. If you do not do what you are required to then it is highly likely you will go to prison.”
Verite, a former academy rugby league player, spoke to Sky News in the wake of the Southport stabbings. He told Sky News: “I’m not going to label myself a hero. I’m happy that I’ve done what I’ve done and I’m happy that I’ve at least managed to save at least one life – if not more.”
Axel Rudakubana was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 52 years for the attack. An inquiry into the events surrounding the murders of three children and the injuries of 10 other people begun in Liverpool last month and is expected to resume in September.
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk. If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk.