A man who repeatedly punched his girlfriend in a Manchester street after a night out has been jailed for 20 months. Daniel Sutcliffe, 38, sent his victim a text afterwards saying: "I'm not going back to jail for you."
Attack after night out
Sutcliffe was banned from contacting his partner under a restraining order when they met by chance at a local pub in July this year. They rekindled their relationship, though Sutcliffe was dating another woman at the same time, Manchester Crown Court heard.
On August 26, the couple went on a night out together. As they walked back to their hotel, the woman asked him about drinking her drink before tapping him on the arm. In response, Sutcliffe repeatedly punched her to the face, causing a black eye, swelling and a cut to her lip. Members of the public intervened before he ran away.
Text message and arrest
He later texted her: "I'm not going back to prison for you. You just punched my ear so it's f****d. Ring me now." He was subsequently arrested and interviewed.
In a victim impact statement, the woman said: "I feel completely devastated by his actions and ashamed of myself that I continued to go back to him. I'm petrified of him and the power he had over me." Pictures of her injuries were shown to the court, depicting a deep purple bruised right eye, a cut to the lip and bruises across her face.
Previous convictions
The court heard that Sutcliffe had nine previous convictions for 19 offences, the most recent of which were against his partner. He was sentenced in April 2025 to a 16-month suspended jail term for assault by beating and assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Preston Crown Court. He was handed a five-year restraining order, which he breached in March this year. He was imprisoned and released in June.
Megan Edwards, defending, said: "I concede this was a nasty offence. He expressed through me that he is ashamed of himself and his actions. He concedes he was in the wrong. He didn't remember what he had done. He is remorseful." She said that whilst in custody, Sutcliffe had referred himself to the recovery service and mental health services.
Sentencing
Sentencing, Peter Wright KC said: "I have seen the photos of your handiwork. It's handiwork at which you are, and should be, ashamed." Of the messages sent, the judge said they demonstrated a 'complete lack of remorse and continued hostility'. "You are a man who can't keep his hands to himself and believe you can convert your physical power over women - it's high time you were rid of that," he added.
Sutcliffe, of Cranfield View, Darwen, was jailed for 20 months after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and breach of a restraining order.
