Joseph Cummins’ victim Rebekah Campbell died earlier this year with a different man due to stand trial accused of her murder
17:18, 22 Aug 2025Updated 19:58, 22 Aug 2025
Joseph Cummins, 30 and of Moorgate Lane in Kirkby, was given a suspended sentence for an assault on a woman at her home
A thuggish MMA fighter pulled out a woman’s hair extensions and kicked her down two flights of stairs. Joseph Cummins, 30, violently assaulted Rebekah Campbell at her home at Knowsley Heights in Huyton on Boxing Day last year following an argument over money.
Cummins, 30, faced a number of serious offences in respect of the early morning assault, but the Crown Prosecution Service accepted a much lower charge of common assault “limiting the court’s sentencing powers”. Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Thursday, that “the very sad truth was Rebekah Campbell had died”, with a different man due to stand trial later this year accused of her murder.
Caleb Suggitt, prosecuting, told the court that the facts of Cummins’ case arose from the night of December 26 last year when “the complainant Ms Campbell was picked up shortly after midnight by the defendant, who took her back to her address at Knowsley Heights“.
The court heard Cummins asked Ms Campbell for money and she said no. A heated argument broke out and Cummins threatened Ms Campbell who told him “go on, hit me”. She told the defendant to leave and he asked if he could have a blanket to sleep outside her flat.
However, a short while later he knocked on the door and forced himself back into her home. The court heard he took her phone off her, damaging it, and then began to assault her. Mr Suggitt told the court that the defendant pulled Ms Campbell with such force that “her hair extensions were pulled from her head”.
The court heard he then “pushed her down one or two flights of stairs”. Ms Campbell broke some of her nails trying to defend herself against her attacker. The court heard she tried to play dead to stop Cummins’ attack but the defendant repeatedly kicked her while she was on the ground.
Ms Campbell was eventually able to flag down an elderly neighbour who reported the incident to the police. The defendant was later arrested and charged in connection with the incident. The court heard he was initially charged with alleged offences including criminal damage and actual bodily harm, but the crown only continued with a common assault charge.
The court heard the 30-year-old defendant, of Moorgate Lane in Kirkby, had four previous convictions for five offences. Mr Suggitt told the court the defendant had a relevant conviction in 2019 for a section 18 assault.
Cummins previously appeared in court in June of that year after the cannabis-addled thug stabbed his childhood friend at his place of work after offering him a straightener on Instagram.
During conversations between Kate Morley, defending, and Judge Simon Medland KC, the court heard the defendant had factors in his life including issues with drink and drugs. Judge Medland said: “He is the only person who can stop that. All of it is up to him.” The court heard Cummins was a MMA fighter and had recently found employment as a welder.
Judge Medland told the defendant, who initially had to apologise to the court due to his lateness, that “on the evidence this started as a much more serious case”. He added: “The prosecution has taken the view that it should be common assault. You have relevant convictions. You have served a sentence of six years.
“Your behaviour towards the now sadly deceased Ms Campbell was very bad indeed. The women in your life aren’t there to be a punch bag.” The judge sentenced the defendant, of Moorgate Lane in Kirkby, to five months in prison, suspended for two years.
Cummins, who wore a black t-shirt and large silver chain in the dock, will also have to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and pay court costs of £750.
Ms Campbell died after suffering stab wounds inside a flat at Knowsley Heights at around 10.30pm on April 15 this year. The 32-year-old, described by her family as a “happy young woman with a genuine heart of gold,” died in hospital.
Michael Ormandy, 34, is charged with murder and will appear for trial at Liverpool Crown Court from October 6 this year.