Sheehan, who has posted videos of himself simulating sex with a washing machine online in his quest for likes and views, has been in custody since the summer
Wannabe social media influencer Dean Sheehan (43), of no fixed abode but with a previous address on the South Circular Road in Limerick, appeared before Teeside Crown Court on December 20 where he was awaiting sentence for the offences against his now former girlfriend.
Sheehan, who has posted videos of himself simulating sex with a washing machine online in his quest for likes and views, has been in custody since the summer after he admitted charges of controlling and coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship and assault causing actual bodily harm.
He was due to be sentenced in October but the hearing was put back to the final court date before Christmas on December 20.
However, when he appeared in court on that day, a judge said he had still not received details of Sheehan’s criminal record in Ireland.
It was not outlined in court if the delay was down to Irish or UK authorities.
The judge urged the Crown Prosecution Service to contact Irish authorities and resolve the issue before the next court appearance on January 17.
Sheehan simulated sex with a washing machine in one video
Sheehan, who was anxious to finalise matters and was hoping he may have even been released due to time served, told the judge that he could tell the court about his convictions in Ireland – but the judge said he needed some sort of official documentation and could not just take the word of the defendant.
As a result, Sheehan remained behind bars over the festive season and had his Christmas dinner in HMP Durham.
The judge told Sheehan that he will finalise sentence on January 17 no matter what happens, but urged the CPS to resolve the situation.
Sheehan previously told the court he had no outstanding cases pending here and his last conviction was a suspended sentence in Ireland last year.
The Sunday World revealed at the time that Sheehan was given an 18-month suspended sentence for threats to kill or cause serious harm at Limerick Circuit Court last November.
He had also been charged with criminal damage but those charges were dropped after he pleaded guilty to the threats.
He has numerous other previous convictions in Ireland, and he posted a video on TikTok in November 2023 three weeks after receiving his suspended sentence boasting about being released from prison early for another offence.
“When you get eight weeks but released after three weeks,” he wrote before adding “tuff three weeks like”.
The charge against him in the UK case said that he caused the woman to fear violence would be used against her on at least two occasions, he assaulted her and made demands for money, while also verbally abusing her and making threats to assault members of her family.
The controlling and coercive behaviour took place between December 1 last year, while the assault took place on July 12.
Sheehan had initially pleaded not guilty to the offences as well as further charges of intentional strangulation and false imprisonment, and was due to stand trial in January. However, after pleading guilty the first two charges Sam Ponniah, prosecuting, told the court those pleas were acceptable to the Crown and the other charges would be dropped.
Sheehan had built up an online following in recent years posting numerous videos on TikTok as well as other social media platforms.
He described himself as a mental health advocate but would also post comments laughing about domestic violence and slapping women.
He also posted videos verbally abusing women he knew personally.
In one video he says: “Apparently I’m the most hated man on TikTok”.