Man assaults girlfriend in row over missing money given to sister

A 49-YEAR-OLD Derbyshire man assaulted his partner after finding out she had given £400 of their money to her drug-using sister.

Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court heard how James Dunn grabbed his girlfriend around the throat during the domestic tussle.

She managed to get herself free and began throwing items at him, leaving him bleeding to the head.

Concerned neighbours called the police who arrested the defendant. But his partner refused to support the prosecution, saying she did not want to get him into trouble.

David Cusack, mitigating, said: “What has happened here is that the defendant goes to the bank to get some money and he realises they are £400 short. There are bills to be paid and he asks his partner ‘where has the money gone?’ She tells him she has had the money and she had given it to her sister who has a problem with drugs. That caused some annoyance and that is why there was an argument.”

Lynn Bickley, prosecuting, said police were called by neighbours on the afternoon of Sunday, January 10. Miss Bickley said: “When the police attended the defendant appeared to have injuries. There was blood on his face, but his partner did not have any injuries.

“She described them having an argument, but that everything was normal. She said he had grabbed her around the throat and she confirmed she threw something at him. She did not support the prosecution, she said everything was good.”

Miss Bickley said Dunn accepted he grabbed the woman, but that he was the injured party, as she had “thrown things” at him.

Dunn, of Mistletoe Drive, Woodville, later pleaded guilty to common assault. District Judge Jonathan Taaffe handed him a 12-month community order, fined him £50 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.