Jade Walton, 24, was handed a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months at Newcastle Crown Court after admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The court heard that on June 10, 2023, Walton shut a car door on her partner's left foot, fracturing it, during a row over his alleged communication with other women.
Details of the Incident
Prosecutor Shada Mellor told the court that the couple had recently begun a relationship and were bowling together when the victim received a message from his brother's long-term partner, making Walton angry. The victim began collecting his belongings, left the property, and sat in the driver's seat of his car. Walton followed him, sat on his knee, and when he attempted to get out, she deliberately shut the car door on him. The door bounced off his foot, causing a fracture that required him to wear a moon boot.
The victim contacted his brother and his partner, who arrived at the scene. His brother helped him to their mother's address. Walton was arrested the following day and had no previous convictions.
Victim Impact Statement
In a statement, the victim said: "It's made me feel as though I don't know how to treat a woman as I could never please her."
Court Sentencing Remarks
Recorder Mark McKone KC noted the domestic context of the offence, stating: "Now the serious aspect of this is that it took place in a domestic context and, you will appreciate I'm sure, that mainly get men coming to court for attacking their wives and girlfriends and there's a lot of pressure on judges to send them to prison so the message goes out that domestic violence will not be tolerated by the courts. The same goes for women. The domestic context does make this offending more serious."
Walton, of Wardle Terrace, Crawcrook, Gateshead, pleaded guilty on the basis that she closed the door deliberately but did not mean to cause the injury. Recorder McKone sentenced her to 12 months in prison suspended for 18 months.
