Police Taser man who beat up girlfriend and vandalised neighbours' cars after night out

A Taser was used to get Matthew Liley to release his grip on the police officer's neck
A Taser was used to get Matthew Liley to release his grip on the police officer's neck. Stock image. -Credit:Getty


An Ashby man needed to be shot with a Taser after beating up his girlfriend in the street before putting a police constable in a headlock. Matthew Liley was arriving back home after a night out when he attacked his girlfriend while still in the back of their Uber.

Liley, 31, put his hands around her neck and strangled the woman and then, after getting out of the taxi, punched her in the face and kicked her while she was on the ground before taking his anger out on a garden fence and three parked cars in the street, kicking in the vehicles' side panels and breaking a wing mirror and a door handle. After the rampage had been going on for about 30 minutes he walked away from the area and phoned Leicestershire Police to tell them he had assaulted his girlfriend and that they should arrest him.

Meanwhile, his girlfriend was outside their home suffering from symptoms of concussion, including nausea and confusion, and needed to be taken to hospital. The police, who had also been called by a worried resident, arrived at Abbey Drive in Ashby and tried to arrest Liley but as he was approached by a police constable he clenched his fists and yelled "come on then" at him.

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The officer tried to get Liley's arm behind his back but Liley got the officer in a headlock, leading to him struggling to breathe. Another officer fired a Taser at Liley, which also caused the officer in the headlock to feel the effects of the electric current.

Prosecutor Lynsey Knott told Leicester Crown Court on Thursday, April 11: "The defendant got the police constable in a headlock and tightened his grip such that the constable describes struggling to breathe. The defendant was Tasered and the constable felt his body stiffening."

The officer suffered a neck injury and needed a month off work. Chief Constable Rob Nixon, the head of the force, wrote a letter to the judge explaining the consequences for injured officers and their families when they are attacked while at work.

The court heard that Liley, who lives in Abbey Drive, had been in a relationship with the woman since August 2023 and that the incident happened shortly after midnight on Saturday, December 16, last year. Liley, who also urinated in a police car after his arrest, later pleaded guilty to two counts of causing actual bodily harm and five counts of criminal damage.

Ms Knott said Liley was due to be charged with grievous bodily harm for the attack on his girlfriend but there was a lack of medical evidence because she refused to let the prosecution have her medical records.

Abbey Drive in Ashby, where the incident occurred
Abbey Drive in Ashby, where the incident occurred -Credit:Google

John Hunter, representing Liley, called Liley's partner to give evidence at the sentencing hearing. She told the court that at the time of the incident Liley, who she was now engaged to marry, had recently come off steroids and had been taking a Chinese medication he had bought online to counter the effects of the steroids and help increase his sperm count so they could have a baby.

The court heard she and Liley had gone to see an Oasis tribute band that night with Liley's sister and her partner, during which they had been drinking alcohol. Mr Hunter said his client's actions had been "shameful" and that Liley described the incident as "one of the worst meltdowns of his life".

Mr Hunter said the Chinese medication had a "significant negative effect on his behaviour and personality" and that what happened would not be repeated. He said prison would lead to Liley, who has debts of £26,000, losing his job.

Judge Keith Raynor, sentencing, said the injuries were very serious and that Liley deserved to be jailed. He said: "You punched her to the face, knocking her down, then kicked her while she was down on the floor. She had a very swollen right cheekbone and at times she was sick and confused. I'm absolutely satisfied this amounts to serious injuries."

Liley was jailed for 33 months. He will be released after serving half of the sentence.