Published at 15:41, Wednesday, 09 May 2012

A THUG has been handed a four-month jail term for a second attack on his girlfriend.

Stuart Wilkie, of St Vincent Street, Barrow, appeared at Furness Magistrates’ Court yesterday to be sentenced for charges of assault and criminal damage.

Wilkie, 35, was released from jail in September for an assault on his partner in 2007, in which he broke her arm and bit off her ear.

The court heard yesterday that Wilkie and his partner, Emma Forster, had been watching the Grand National on April 14 in a pub until 9.30pm, before they moved on to the Vickerstown Institute.

Miss Forster drank around nine pints of lager and six or seven double vodkas while Wilkie had around 16 pints of Guinness and six or seven double vodkas.

The couple began to argue, so Miss Forster went to the house of a friend until early morning, before walking home with Wilkie.

The couple picked up takeaway food before returning to Miss Forster’s home. They began to argue and Wilkie pushed food off a table and treaded it into the carpet. He then kicked over Miss Forster’s TV.

Mrs Lisa Hine, prosecuting, said: “He pushed her, she landed on her knees. He grabbed her hair and pushed her head forwards into the floor.

“While she was bent forwards on the floor he punched her to the back of the two or three times.

“The defendant then grabbed her by the arm and bent it backwards. The defendant has broken her arm doing this in the past and Miss Forster was afraid he was going to do it again.”

Miss Forster then ran towards the front door and screamed for help.

She was left with scratches to her neck and chest, and suffered pain where she had been punched and had her hair pulled out. She also suffered bruising to her left buttock.

Mr Steve Evans, defending, told the court Wilkie was remorseful and determined to beat his anger and alcohol issues.

Presiding magistrate Mrs Jacqui Barnfield said: “We’re satisfied these offences were so serious only a custodial sentence can be justified.

“It was a sustained and vicious attack on a previous victim in her home.

“You caused degradation and designed them to humiliate.”

Wilkie pleaded guilty to criminal damage and assault by beating.

He was sentenced to four months in prison for assault and two months to run concurrently for the criminal damage.

He was also given a restraining order forbidding him to approach or contact Miss Forster in any way.

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk