Drug user who beat his ex-partner during alcohol-fuelled row handed suspended sentence

Craig Smith hobbled into Wolverhampton Crown Court with a crutch after confessing he ‘man-handled’ his former girlfriend during an alcohol-fuelled row.

The 31-year-old’s ‘sustained and repeated’ attack left the woman with bruising across her body, including her arms and thighs, the court heard on Friday.

Sentencing, Recorder David Mason QC handed the defendant a six-month sentence, suspended for two years, after hearing Smith was ‘not a violent person’.

He said: “I anticipate you are ashamed of your behaviour on this night. She was drunk – that is no reason to assault a woman and to do is an appalling piece of behaviour.

“Most people who assault women understandably go to prison. This was clearly out of character.”

The woman refused to leave Smith’s Wolverhampton home after turning up at his door in the early hours of April 28, prosecutor Mr Ekwall Tiwana said.

Smith, who must pay a victim surcharge, then shoved her to the floor before throwing her into his car, where he punched her as she tried to flee. Smith, of Edensor Close, Park Village, then drove to the woman’s home, dragging her out of the car and pushing her into the living room.

His abuse then continued, with Smith smashing his ex-partner’s belongings as she escaped to an upstairs room, the prosecutor said. Smith then lugged the woman back into his car before driving to his mother’s house, where his children were staying, and later driving his ex-girlfriend home.

Mr Tiwana added: “It seems just to be a drunken argument. The prosecution had to accept it was caused by the complainant going to Smith’s house for some reason, so it started off after that.” Defence barrister Mr Jasvir Mann said Smith, who admitted two counts of actual bodily harm, was out with friends when his ex-partner called to reveal she was outside his home.

Smith later spotted her standing on a dustbin and trying to get into the house before she began ‘shouting at the top of her voice’ about Smith’s infidelity.

The defendant became concerned she would be unsafe walking home through Heath Town alone and bundled her into his car.

He then took her to their children with hopes she would calm down after seeing the youngsters, Mr Mann claimed.

The barrister added: “He accepts he lost control. He was trying to reason with her. He says he restrained her forcefully. His intention was to leave her at home. He is not a violent man.”

Cannabis user Smith, who did not have previous convictions for violence, claimed he had not taken any drugs before he launched the attack upon his ex-partner.

He was handed a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a three-month curfew, and ordered to take part in a building better relationships programme.

Recorder Mason entered a not guilty verdict for a further count false imprisonment, which Smith had denied, after the prosecution offered no evidence.