Serial domestic abuser from Chester jailed

A 59-year-old man who physically abused, degraded and controlled his partner has been jailed for over a year and handed a restraining order.

Steven Ison appeared at Chester Crown Court on Monday 10 February, where he was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to assault and criminal damage offences.

Ison, of Aldford Road, Upton, was also handed a five-year restraining order, preventing him from contacting his victim.

During his court hearing, it was heard that in August 2024 a Cheshire Police Constable attended the address of a 34-year-old woman following concerns for her welfare.

Upon arriving at the address, the Constable noticed visible injuries and enquired into how she sustained them, to which she replied, ‘Idi, Idi did it’. She was referring to Ison, her 59-year-old ex-partner.

The victim told the officer that Steven Ison had been released from prison a day prior, having completed a sentence for assaulting her, and had strict conditions not to make contact. But despite this, upon his release he asked if she could meet him at his address.

Ison made threats towards her and accused her of cheating on him. He became angry and aggressive, taking her phone from her and going through it to look for any evidence, smashing it when he found nothing.

It was at this point Ison became violent, verbally degrading the victim, before going on to headbutt her. The force of the headbutt resulted in considerable swelling to the victim's head as well as a large cut. Ison then continued to hit her, causing several other injuries.

Officers subsequently arrested Ison at his address in Upton on suspicion of assault and criminal damage, and he was taken into custody for questioning. He answered ‘no comment’ to all questions put to him.

The victim was understandably left considerably shaken by this violent ordeal and did not initially feel confident in supporting a police investigation into Ison's horrific attack.

Western Area Investigation Team's PCs Walker and Cochrane, and then Upton Beat Manager PC Hackett, went above and beyond in supporting the victim’s needs and vulnerability, developing her confidence and helping her in disclosing Ison's torrent of abuse. This resulted in officers uncovering that the victim had been the subject of a range of abuse by her former partner on several occasions between 2023 and 2024.

This, in turn, resulted in Ison being further arrested on suspicion of four additional assaults.

After being charged, Ison was set to start trial at Chester Crown Court on Monday 10 February, but at the last minute he pleaded guilty to assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

Alongside his 18-month prison sentence, Ison was issued with a restraining order that will come into place upon his release from prison. The order prevents him from contacting the victim for a period of five years and he could face an immediate prison sentence if he chooses to breach it.

Following the sentencing, Chief Inspector Paul Fegan, of Chester Local Policing Unit, said:

"Prior to his arrival in court, Steven Ison refused to accept responsibility for his actions but when faced with the evidence against him he was forced to admit his guilt.

"We have a zero tolerance stance to abuse of any kind, with violence against women and girls a force priority that our officers work very hard to combat day-in-day-out.

"I would like to commend the victim on her bravery in coming forward to police and disclosing how she was treated. I know this could not have been easy for her, so her bravery and courage are truly admirable.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank PCs Walker, Hackett and Cochrane from Chester AIT and Beat Teams for their continued efforts in helping her build her confidence to allow her to feel strong enough to speak about the abuse she suffered.

"I do hope that, while we may not be able to undo the horrific abuse our victim suffered, Ison's return to prison and subsequent issuing of a five-year restraining order will give her the confidence she needs to begin to move forward with her life and not live in fear of violence anymore.”

If you, or someone you know, are a victim of domestic abuse please report it by calling 101 or visiting: 

www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us.

In an emergency always call 999.

Pictured - Steven Ison of Aldford Road in Upton.