Jail for man who hit partner as she drove (From Evesham Journal)

Jail for man who hit partner as she drove

1:00pm Thursday 9th August 2012 in News

A MAN who punched his girlfriend in the head while she was driving him and their nine-month old son has been jailed.

Paul Kearley, of Hands Orchard, Great Comberton, near Pershore, repeatedly hit her with his fists and a bag full of child care essentials.

The 34-year-old, who had a three-year relationship with the woman, has a history of domestic violence and was sentenced to 16 months in prison in 2004 when he assaulted a partner.

Abbey Kingston, prosecuting, told the court the assault happened after Kearley decided to take the couple’s nine-month-old daughter and a four-year-old child from an earlier relationship to return a music device which was broken.

When the shop refused to take the device back, Kearley called the woman and returned to the house. They then headed back to the shop together.

Miss Kingston said: “He got in the back and [the woman] was driving. It was immediately apparent the defendant had been drinking.

While she was driving she received a call from Tesco informing her a delivery of food had arrived at the house.

“He wanted to take the music device back but she started to return.

“He then grabbed her hair while she was driving, saying she should turn the car around. He continued to hold her hair and started to punch her in the head.

“He then threw her phone which hit her in the left eye.

“He said he was going to kill her if she didn’t turn the car around.”

Meanwhile the victim had got out the car but he began hitting her again. She began driving again and he started hitting her before picking up a full bag and hitting her around the head with it.

“With that, she started to scream,” said Miss Kingston.

“He then got out the car.”

Later, Kearley made abusive and threatening calls and sent text messages threatening to kill the woman.

David Ollivere, defending, said: “There was a loss of temper largely down to his drinking. He accepts fully his actions. That said, there were points during the altercation it was both ways. He stands in court today with scratches to his face.

“He is down to attend a detox session programme.

He would like me to say he loves his partner.”

Sentencing Kearley, deputy district Judge Anita Price called the circumstances horrendous and gave him four months in prison and a restraining order preventing contact with his victim.