‘Most people don’t turn to using their partner as a punchbag’
10:23, 04 Jan 2026Updated 06:38, 05 Jan 2026
Moss slapped his partner after becoming frustrated (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
A man who subjected his partner to a ‘relentless’ 90 minute ordeal has been jailed for 21 months.
Kenneth Moss, 30, ‘treated his partner like a ragdoll’ as he dragged her around the bedroom of his home. During the attack, he ordered her to be quiet as his grandmother was in the house – however the pensioner was deaf and suffering dementia, Preston Crown Court heard.
As a result of the attack, and previous violence towards her, the woman felt ‘broken’ and said she wakes up every day feeling afraid. “It was two years of torture, two years I felt trapped. I felt I was never going to get away,” she said.
Cailin McLachlan, prosecuting, said Moss was in a two year relationship with the woman which ‘took a turn for the worse’ during the second year. He was jealous and on one occasion broke her mobile phone.
In September 2024, Moss slapped his partner after becoming frustrated she was speaking to one of his friends. He caused her to bang her head against a wall and demanded she called him by her ex’s name.
The following day he pushed her causing her to twist her ankle – and fear she would be pushed down the stairs. In a separate incident in April, he grabbed her by the hair causing clumps to fall out.
In May 2025, he took her car keys and bank card to prevent her from going home. He then assaulted her, grabbing her arms and throwing her around the room. He pushed her on the bed and told her she was not going anywhere in the ‘relentless’ attack.
Eventually she managed to escape and drove to his mother’s house, but Moss followed her and blamed her for what had happened. The woman went to hospital where her injuries – including bruising to her neck and limbs – were photographed.
She did not sustain any fractures, the court heard. As a result of her ordeal, the woman says she no longer trusts people and has suffered emotionally and physically.
Moss, of Coniston Drive, Walton-le-Dale, pleaded guilty to ABH and two counts of common assault. His barrister, Anthony Horsfall, said he was remorseful for what he had done. He had turned to drugs following a bereavement but no longer uses cocaine – although he still struggles with alcohol misuse, he said.
Sentencing, Judge Michael Maher said Moss’s remorse was ‘nonsense’. In a presentence report the defendant denied elements of the violence and tried to shift blame towards his partner, the judge said.
“In my judgement, whilst you say you are clean of drugs I doubt there is any realistic prospect of rehabilitation”, Judge Maher said. “You previously had the benefit of an alcohol treatment requirement and that was obviously unsuccessful.
“You submit a recent bereavement was a catalyst for you turning back to alcohol and drugs. Well, bereavement is an unfortunate byproduct of life.
“People don’t generally turn to using their partner as a punchbag as a result of death.”
He sentenced Moss to 21 months and made a seven year restraining order to protect his partner.
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