‘Jekyll and Hyde’ bully beat partner in boozy attack
VIOLENT DRINK-FUELLED ASSAULT
A Heavy-drinking violent bully angrily grabbed his girlfriend’s breast with such severe force that she thought he was trying to tear it off because of a cancer scare that she had suffered.
Kenneth Burton angrily warned her during the vicious attack: “I’ll get rid of that f ****** thing.”
He also dragged her along the floor by her hair and repeatedly attacked her during an “appalling catalogue” of violence, Hull Crown Court heard.
Burton, 39, of Walliker Street, Hull, admitted two offences of assault causing actual bodily harm, two of assault and two of criminal damage.
Cathy Kioko-gilligan, prosecuting, said that the couple had been in an on-off relationship since June last year.
Burton and the woman were going to watch a film together and order a takeaway on September 17 last year, but he suddenly hit her in the mouth without warning and for no reason.
During another incident, he accused her of stealing his packets of tobacco and there was an argument in the street on September 19 last year.
He pushed her and punched her to the throat, knocking her to the ground, and walked off laughing.
She was upset at what happened and later went to speak to Burton, but he was still angry and was aggressive towards her, shouting in her face.
The woman went to her brother’s nearby home, but Burton barged his way in and shouted: “You stupid f***ing cow. You should see what I have done to your car.”
Burton pinned her down on a bed by the throat and punched her in the face and nose, causing a bloody nose, bruises and swelling.
The brother was unable to stop the attack. She later discovered that Burton had damaged her car wing mirror and door.
In another assault between September 17 and 20 last year, Burton became abusive and accused the woman of
Your former partner is entitled to feel safe and secure in your presence and certainly not be attacked repeatedly Judge John Thackray QC
being unfaithful.
During a two-hour ordeal, he pushed her to the ground, dragged her along by her hair, spat in her face and hit her.
She managed to escape but had to hide to avoid him. She later went to a hotel in Anlaby Road, Hull, but agreed that he could meet her there.
They bought alcohol and returned to the room where Burton drank ten cans of lager.
“He assaulted her repeatedly and punched her while she was on the bed,” said Miss Kioko-gilligan.
“He turned the bed over, throwing her to the floor.
“He grabbed her breast with such force as if he was trying to tear it off her.”
Burton told her: “I’ll get rid of that f ****** thing.”
The woman had previously made mention of the fact that the breast might be cancerous.
“She felt that she had lost everything, especially in the light of her recent breast cancer scare.”
Burton had convictions for 25 previous offences, including for violence, harassment and drugs.
Mark Savage, mitigating, said that Burton did not seek to make excuses for his behaviour.
Mr Savage said: “When he drinks, he offends and this has been a wakeup call for him. He acknowledges that he needs assistance in dealing not only with his alcohol dependency but relationships. He is deeply apologetic. Nobody in any relationship should have to endure violence. He simply can’t continue to behave in the way that he has. This is a nasty, serious event.”
When he had been drinking, Burton was a “Jekyll and Hyde character”, the court heard.
Judge John Thackray QC told Burton: “Your former partner is entitled to feel safe and secure in your presence and certainly not to be attacked repeatedly.
“This was an appalling catalogue of assaults by you and you should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.
“Only a significant custodial sentence can be justified.”
They were “prolonged and persistent” assaults, including grabbing her by the throat.
Burton was jailed for two years and ten months and was given an indefinite restraining order.