Teen warned not to follow in footsteps of city killer

Jack Gallagher, 19, appeared at Norwich Crown Court having admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm between January and June last year.

It was after he had "grabbed her around the throat" and "just couldn't stop hitting her" and also followed her to nightclubs as part of his offending.

Before Gallagher was sentenced Judge Andrew Shaw said he was "shocked" that "someone of your age could've behaved in this way" and told him the name Joe Storey still rings around this court.

Storey was jailed for life in 2017 after being found guilty of the murder of his former partner Ms McAuley at her Norwich flat.

He had attacked five previous girlfriends as far back as 2008, and at the time of the murder had three restraining orders to protect former partners.

Judge Shaw told Gallagher that Storey kept coming back before the court but he "didn't stop until he killed someone".

He said: "He killed his girlfriend, beat her to death in her flat.

"He's now serving life imprisonment and may never come out; that's where this leads."

Judge Shaw warned Gallagher that if he continued to act in the way he had he was heading for "a world of trouble".

Gallagher, of Key and Castle Yard, Norwich, had also admitted engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour in an intimate relationship, and theft.

He was given a two-year community order including 40 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) alongside a Building Better Relationships (BBR) programme.

Gallagher was also made the subject of a five-year restraining order banning him from contacting the victim directly or indirectly.

Judge Shaw added that if he continued to act like this he would be "brought back before the court and would be going to a young offenders institution".

Will Carter, mitigating, said the defendant was "still very young" and had served nine months on remand.

Mr Carter said if he "fouls up he will only have himself to blame" and would be back in court with the barrister having "warned him about the inevitable consequences".

As previously reported Ms McAuley, a mother of two, suffered 19 separate injuries to her face, including fractured eye sockets, cheek bones and jaw following a sustained attack.

Following the brutal attack, Storey smeared her blood on his face and took a selfie before leaving her to die.

Jailing Storey Judge Stephen Holt described it as "one of the worst cases of domestic violence that have come before these courts".

In 2018 a domestic homicide review found a catalogue of failings which meant Storey, a serial abuser, was free to kill Ms McAuley.

She had told police she feared Storey would kill her during an attack in July 2016 and later told a friend "I know he is going to kill me".

Following the case Ms McAuley's family, who have campaigned in her memory and helped raise £11,000 for Leeway domestic abuse services, welcomed the judge's comments.

Ms McAuley's uncle, Steve Roberts, speaking on behalf of the family, said: "Judge Shaw's warning to this offender has demonstrated how Kerri's murder has resonated with Norwich Crown Court by highlighting parallels in this case with those of Storey.

"It is hoped the victim too is made aware of the parallels with Kerri and the potential fatal consequences."

The 56-year-old said it was "of concern" these types of offences were coming before the courts so regularly.

He added: "Surely it is about time the community safety partnership got the right agencies around the table, to ensure effective actions can be taken, that evidences at the very least, a slowing down of this type of offending."