Published date: 17 May 2016 |
Published by: Staff reporterRead more articles by Staff reporterEmail reporter
A MAN attacked his partner as they drove home from the post office, a court heard.
Benjamin Russell Williams launched the assault on Jessica Shoemark while their 14-month-old daughter was in the car, magistrates in Wrexham heard.
Prosecutor Justin Espie said the couple had been to the Post Office in Wrexham to pick up an item but Williams, of Cardigan Road in Borras, became angry and tore up the notice and they could not retrieve the item.
As Miss Shoemark drove them home, Williams wrapped a towel around his hand and twice punched her in back of the head.
Williams pleaded guilty to four counts of common assault against Miss Shoemark and one count of criminal damage at a hearing on April 21.
The second assault happened at a property on Farmhouse Mews, Wrexham on February 13 when Williams hit Miss Shoemark, who fell and hit her head on a bedpost.
Williams continued to punch Miss Shoemark in the face while she was curled up on the floor.
He also smashed Miss Shoemark’s iPad and iPhone during the assault, the court heard.
She called the police and Williams left the house, before he appeared outside a window a short time later and told officers “You will be looking for me”.
Miss Shoemark sustained a black eye, a swollen face and a bite mark on her left cheek, Mr Espie added.
She had described the relationship as “horrible”, Mr Espie said, only staying with Williams as she felt she had to because they had a child.
She told police of a number of historic allegations of assault, and as a result Williams was charged with the two further counts of assault.
In September 2015, Williams strangled Miss Shoemark and in December that year he pulled her around by her hair, causing some of it to come out.
In a statement read by Mr Espie, Miss Shoemark said that during three-year relationship she had not been allowed to see certain friends and that Williams would threaten to beat her up if she did.
Williams would call her fat, a whore and an unfit mother and due to the constant abuse she had gone from being an outgoing person to finding it difficult to speak to people because she was frightened at how Williams would react.
When she did go out Williams would call her and send text messages asking where she was, who she was with and if she was spending money.
She had thought about going to the police before, but had not done so, the court heard.
Williams seemed genuine when he apologised and said he wanted to get help, Miss Shoemark said.
But she realised after the assault on February 13 that Williams was not going to change and that he had to get out.
Bethan Jones, defending, said Williams had told her that he had been concerned about the way the relationship was heading.
It was the first time anyone had told Miss Jones “I have got a problem that needs addressing”, she said.
Miss Jones said that the offences cumulatively crossed the custody threshold but she suggested magistrates impose a suspended sentence given the way Williams conducted himself throughout proceedings, the remorse he had shown from the outset and the pleas entered to spare Miss Shoemark from coming to court.
Probation officer Rachel Woodcock said WIlliams accepted full responsibility for the offences, although he disputed some of the circumstances leading up to them.
She added: “He feels terrible about he’s done.”
He also disputed Miss Shoemark being frightened of him, as he had accidentally come into contact with her and she had verbally abused him.
He posed a medium risk of another conviction for violence, Miss Woodcock said.
Magistrates jailed Williams for 22 weeks for each assault, to run concurrently, and four weeks for the criminal damage, also to run concurrently.
He must pay Miss Woodcock £800 in compensation and an £80 surcharge.
A three-year restraining order was made barring Williams from any contact with Miss Shoemark, save through a third party for child access matters.
He must also not visit her home.
see-http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/162101/wrexham-man-jailed-after-attacking-partner-while-14-month-old-daughter-was-in-car.aspx
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