Telford man guilty of drunken attack on partner 'should have stayed out'

Luke Anthony Austin, 27, had previously admitted the lengthy attack on his partner who he struck round the head repeatedly and locked in a room. Austin pleaded guilty toassault by beating on July 17 when he appeared in court three days after the offence.

Magistrates at Telford yesterday sentenced him to three months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered him to carry out 30 days of rehabilitation activities and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Mr Mike Phillips, prosecuting, said Austin, of The Fields in Donnington Wood, Telford, had been in the relationship for one year and on the day of the attack had left work in the morning, coming back drunk at midnight. A row broke out between the pair over a phone, leading Austin to bite his partner on the hand, leaving marks.

"Wherever she went the defendant followed," said Mr Phillips.

Austin had picked up a small sharp knife and started scratching his chest with it, before advancing towards the "terrified" victim and laughing, he added.

He then hit her three times on the head with an open palm and put his hands around her throat, leaving her struggling for breath, the court was told. The defendant then locked the victim in their bedroom and kept her there for 30 minutes, but the fight then continued, as he grabbed her in a headlock while trying to throw her out of the house and hit her on the head six times.

The woman managed to run to the neighbours who had already called the police, said Mr Phillips.

Mr Jonathan Mason, for Austin, said: "He perhaps should have stayed away until he had sobered up and had a chance to reflect on things."

He said Austin had to address his thinking towards domestic violence and violence in general. "He's a man that does need some help and guidance," said Mr Mason who added that the defendant was "not proud of his behaviour".

Austin was due to start full-time employment, the court was told. He was also ordered to pay £315 in court charges.