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A man described as the definition of an abuser was handed 11 prison sentences yesterday.
Luke Wroe, 25, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court to be sentenced for the multitude of offences which included sharing sexually explicit images, assaulting a woman, theft, criminal damage and affray.
Upon sentencing, Judge Graeme McKerrell acknowledged that Wroe intends to return to the UK after his custodial sentence is completed. “Despicable doesn’t get close to describe how bad your behaviour has been… the sooner you get off our island the better,” said Judge McKerrell.
Pictured: Wroe entered guilty pleas for five criminal damage charges, which included shattering a pane of glass after slamming a door.
The Crown advocate said that Wroe had become angered when a male spoke to a female friend of Wroe’s when the pair were in a nightclub. “Mr Wroe pushed the male while the victim went to hide in the bathroom. She then attempted to leave without Mr Wroe, but he found her and they left together,” said the Crown advocate.
The court then heard that the woman made it clear that she did not want Wroe to go home with her, at which point he kicked her house keys into a nearby building site so she could not access them.
The woman then walked in the direction of the police station, followed by Wroe. He grabbed her and bit her face, leaving a bruise close to her jaw. The victim proceeded to the police station to report the assault.
While his victim was at the police station, Wroe went to her home, where he used a ladder to gain entry through an upstairs window. When inside, Wroe caused criminal damage to two televisions and a lamp.
Pictured: Wroe assaulted a female close to the Police Station.
Police found Wroe asleep in the property and arrested him for the assault. The victim later reported the criminal damage after returning home.
It later transpired that, before falling asleep at his victim’s home, Wroe had sent “very personal photos of a sexual nature” of the victim to the victim’s mother and sister.
On 9 January 2021, Wroe then posted one of the images as his Facebook profile picture, causing the victim “extreme distress and extreme embarrassment”.
Judge McKerrell commented that sharing the images was “a sick and depraved thing to do”.
Acting in Wroe’s defence, Advocate Sam Maindonald highlighted that the complaints against Wroe had initially been withdrawn.
A further three of Wroe’s charges related to offences against the same victim.
Pictured: Wroe set his profile picture on Facebook as a sexually explicit image of his partner.
On 15 September 2021, the pair were in town celebrating the end of Wroe’s bail condition for another offence. The court heard that Wroe became “controlling and confrontational” and repeatedly took her phone from her throughout the evening.
At home, the woman. attempted to call the police and Wroe grabbed her by her wrist. Wroe left the property and, in doing so, slammed the door, causing the window to smash.
The prosecution noted that the window had an existing crack, and it was accepted that Wroe had not intended to cause the damage.
A further incident occurred on 6 April this year after Wroe messaged the woman asking her to bring him clothes to the Captain’s Hotel where he was staying, which she ultimately agreed to.
Upon delivering the clothes, the woman stayed in her vehicle. Wroe approached the driver’s side and punched the wing mirror, causing it to snap. Wroe walked away and the woman picked up the wing mirror and proceeded to call the police.
Pictured: In one instance of domestic abuse, Wroe grabbed his victim by the wrist as she attempted to call the police.
Wroe then returned and punched the wing mirror on the passenger side of the vehicle, causing it to snap, while “shouting vague threats” at the woman.
Wroe was also charged with affray for his role in a fight which occurred on 26 June 2021 at Victoria Pier. Two other men were sentenced separately in relation to the incident.
Pictured: Wroe appeared in the Magistrate's Court on 1 September for sentencing on 11 charges.
Judge McKerrell gave Wroe credit for entering guilty pleas for the charges, although it was noted that Wroe had initially entered a not guilty plea for the assault on the woman. He later entered a guilty plea.
“If someone wrote a book of what an...abuser is, you would be on page one of chapter one. You sustained a campaign of abuse against your victim,” said Judge McKerrell.
Judge McKerrell handed down eleven custodial sentences as follows:
Three months for the assault on the woman
Three months (consecutively) for sending the images of the victim to her mother
Three months (concurrently) for sending the images of the victim to her sister
Two months (consecutively) for the criminal damage to the lamp
Two months (concurrently) for the criminal damage to the TV
Two months (concurrently) for the criminal damage to the second TV
Three months (consecutively) for sharing the image of the victim on Facebook
One month (concurrently) for affray
Two months (concurrently) for the theft of the mobile phone
One month (concurrently) for the criminal damage to the glass pane
One month (consecutively) for the criminal damage to the vehicle
Pictured: Wroe was sentenced to 12 months in prison from 8 April 2022.
The sentences total 12 months in prison, commencing from 8 April 2022, when Wroe was first imprisoned. Advocate Maindonald said that Wroe intended to return to the UK on completion of his sentence.
Judge McKerrell commented: “Ensure you keep your promise to return to the UK and leave us well alone. We don’t want you here.”
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