Man, 25, struck his girlfriend in the face

A MAN hit his girlfriend in the face during a row at their Paddock flat.

The victim dropped to the floor during the attack on May 13.

Connor Buckley had denied assault by beating but was found guilty following a trial.

Sharon Thompson, prosecuting, said that the incident occurred at the couple’s address in Granby Flats.

There were two witnesses who reported to police that there was a commotion inside dad-of-two Buckley’s flat.

Ms Thompson said: “The witnesses tried to get in the door and the defendant hit the complainant in the face.

“She dropped to the floor and police were called.”

The witnesses attempted to split the couple up during the row, Kirklees magistrates were told.

The victim then refused to go to hospital to get checked over.

Buckley, 25, was last in court in July 2017 for an offence of possession of a class B drug for which he received a conditional discharge.

Probation officer Sharon Lees described the couple’s relationship as ‘volatile’ and said that there had been previous police call-outs following reports of domestic violence.

She said: “He says it’s six of one and half a dozen of the other so there’s elements of him minimising his behaviour.”

Magistrates were told that the couple have been together for six years and have two children although they have been removed from their care.

Buckley’s last conviction for assault was in 2007 for a fight he was involved in at school.

He was convicted for the latest offence following a trial held in his absence at the Huddersfield court.

Buckley was sentenced to a community order with 20 rehabilitation activity days aimed at addressing his offending behaviour. He will have to pay £200 prosecution costs and £90 victim surcharge.