'It only took him six weeks to destroy me': criminal who beat, raped and coercively controlled partner to remain in prison after appeal rejected

A man convicted of assaulting, raping and coercively controlling his partner over a six-week period has had his appeal against conviction dismissed by the Court of Appeal. Dean Ward, aged 38, formerly of County Wexford, was sentenced to seventeen years imprisonment following his conviction in June 2022 on twelve offences committed between June and July 2019. The offences, which occurred while the victim resided in Killybegs, County Donegal, included four assaults, false imprisonment, threats to kill, rape and coercive control. Mr Justice John Edwards rejected Ward's arguments that victim testimony regarding previous attempted killings and evidence of financial control were prejudicial. The court found such evidence was relevant and probative, and that the trial judge correctly declined to discharge the jury. Ward, who has nine previous convictions including a prior false imprisonment conviction, maintains his innocence and does not accept the jury verdict.