First-time teen drinker in town assault on wife
A TEENAGER assaulted his wife in Huddersfield town centre after drinking alcohol for the first time.
Miles Connors was caught on CCT V repeatedly slapping and pushing the victim after getting so drunk that he could barely stand.
Kirklees Magistrates’ Court was told that the 19-year-old had also tried the synthetic drug spice during his night out, bringing shame on his family of travellers.
District Judge Michael Fanning described the prolonged attack as nasty and described the teenager as ‘steaming drunk’.
He said to Connors as his family watched from the public gallery: “I hope you are ashamed of yourself.”
Connors, of Millbrook Gardens, Dewsbury, pleaded assault by beating.
The Huddersfield court was shown footage of the attack in the early hours of November 12 last year.
Shamaila Qureshi, prosecuting, said that the incident began in Southgate shortly before 2.30am.
She said: “The defendant grabbed hold of her and she pushed him away.
“She is seen crying and he gets on the floor and slaps and punches himself.
“The defendant then grabs her cheeks and slaps her face.
“He then puts his hands on her chin and pushes her head back into a wall, slapping her twice.”
The court was shown footage where Connors was seen walking away, then back towards his wife.
At one point he got down on the ground and slammed it before gesturing towards the victim as she approached him, grabbing her by the arm and pushing her face.
The couple pushed each other and then Connors twice drew back his hand as if he was going to punch her.
The teenager, who has no previous convictions, answered ‘ no comment’ to all questions put to him in his police interview.
Ian Whiteley, mitigating, said: “It was the first time he had ever drunk alcohol in his life.
“At the function he was with some people who were smoking spice and he has had two drags.
“He is from a travelling family and that is absolutely frowned upon in the travelling fraternity.
“He is deeply remorseful for his actions and cannot accept what he did on this particular night.”
Judge Fanning said of Connors: “It’s absolutely apparent that he’s steaming drunk. He can hardly walk.”
He said he needed a report from probation staff before he could sentence him.
Judge Fanning told him : “It’s very unpleasant to watch.
“You have never been in trouble before and it is the first time youve had a drink. Hopefully it is the last. I hope you’re ashamed of yourself.
“If you had been convicted of this after a trial you would be going to prison. This sort of violence cannot be tolerated.”