A jealous man kicked his ex-partner in the head as she cowered on the floor of her utility room, a court has heard. Liam Hunt, who has a previous conviction for harassing another former girlfriend, turned up at the victim's address demanding to know who had given her a lift home.
In a bid to calm him down, the frightened woman let the 26-year-old inside, but he repaid her kind gesture by "smashing the place up", Newcastle Magistrates' Court was told. The terrified victim fled to her utility room and crouched down in the corner, but Hunt followed and kicked her in the back of the head, prosecutors said.
Attack and damage
The lout left the scene in Ashington, Northumberland, but returned a short while later and smashed the woman's front door, causing £750-worth of damage. Hunt, of Ridgeway, Ashington, was finally arrested and was given a 22-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, when he appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court this week to plead guilty to assault by beating, common assault and two counts of criminal damage.
District Judge Kate Meek told him: "Your behaviour was disgraceful and terrifying. It was alarming, violent and abusive. You have a previous conviction for harassment in 2019, where your behaviour was controlling, jealous and aggressive when you were not getting your way."
"When you became jealous on this occasion, you behaved in a violent and jealous way towards [the victim]. I'm absolutely satisfied that it was a prolonged incident, substantial force was used, including a kick to the head, and the injuries were more than minor."
Court details
The court heard that the victim had returned home at around 9.30pm on June 26 this year when Hunt approached her front door and demanded to know who had given her a lift. George Johnstone, prosecuting, said Hunt continued to shout at the woman and she let him inside in the hope he'd calm down.
Mr Johnstone added: "Upon entry, the defendant started smashing the place up. He kicked the freezer door and he smashed a mirror. The victim crouched in the corner of her utility room and he kicked her in the back of the head on the right hand side."
"He proceeded to throw the victim's phone, telling her 'Your phone's f*****'. The victim picked up the phone and ran out of the property."
The court was told that the victim later returned to her home but, a few hours later, so did Hunt. Mr Johnstone continued: "He was shouting at her that he was bleeding."
"The victim indicates that she hid in the corner of her dining area and began calling the police. The defendant proceeded to kick the front door six or seven times before the interior panel went through and the glass panel smashed."
Victim impact and sentence
In a statement, the victim said: "Twice in one day I was genuinely petrified for my life because of Liam. No one should have to live like this and I would not wish it on my worst enemy."
She added: "I'm scared of being in my own home and I have been trying to move since Christmas so I would be somewhere Liam would not know where I live."
Kyle Patterson, defending, said Hunt hadn't committed any further offences since his arrest in June. Mr Patterson told the court: "He accepts he's frightened the complainant and he shouldn't have acted in the way he has. This is a young man who is very much committed to dealing with the difficulties he's got."
As well as the suspended sentence, Hunt must do 150 hours of unpaid work, must pay £1,000 compensation and was made subject to a three-year restraining order.
