Headbutt thug spared jail over attack on his ex
JEALOUS FORMER PARTNER ATTACKED VICTIM IN FRONT OF THEIR 10-MONTH-OLD CHILD
A JEALOUS man who grabbed his ex by the throat and headbutted her after discovering texts from another male has avoided jail.
The former couple’s 10-monthold child was in the house at the time of the attack and Quaid Price admitted he had witnessed violence as a child.
A district judge sentenced him to a suspended jail term, telling him that his behaviour may have an impact upon his daughter later in life.
The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to assault by beating.
Shamalia Qureshi, prosecuting, said that the couple’s relationship ended last December.
On February 27, Price attended at the victim’s Mirfield home to see their child.
Mrs Qureshi said: “He’s going through her phone and sees texts from another male.
“He becomes aggressive and says he’s taking the child from her.
“Then he grabs her by the throat and throws her to the ground.
“He headbutts her to the forehead, punches her stomach and makes a threat to her.”
The victim said that their child was present at two stages of the assault. The first time was in the living room when Price punched her three to four times to the stomach.
Kirklees Magistrates’ Court was told that he took the baby out of her high chair saying he was going to leave with her.
When the victim followed him and their child into the bedroom he headbutted her, Mrs Qureshi said.
She then managed to leave with the baby, locking Price inside the house with her key.
Her injuries included a significant bump to her head.
Price, of no fixed address, claimed the child was not in the room during the assaults.
His solicitor Carl Kingsley explained that he is currently sofa surfing and claiming Universal Credit. He said: “He witnessed significant domestic violence whilst at home with his parents.
“It’s a case of conditioning when he was young to act how his father acted when he was alive.”
District Judge Michael Fanning described the attack as ‘sustained’. He said: “The child was in the house and would have been aware of what was happening,
“There is an impact on very young children with this sort of violence.
“They sense it and it has a very real effect on them.” Judge Fanning took into account Price’s lack of previous convictions and the realistic prospect of him being rehabilitated.
He said: “I don’t see any benefit in sending you to prison.”
Instead he sentenced him to 18 weeks in custody suspended for a year, adding: “A suspended sentence hanging over you for 12 months is the real punishment.”
Price will have to complete 25 rehabilitation activity days and 70 hours of unpaid work as part of a community order.
He was ordered to pay £85 costs and £115 victim surcharge.