Woman fell and broke jaw after her ex-partner lost his temper
VICTIM HIT HER FACE ON A TOY BOX WHEN BOYFRIEND PUSHED HER OUT OF THE WAY
A WOMAN fell and broke her jaw on a toy box after her fired-up boyfriend viciously knocked her out of the way when she tried to stop him leaving her home after a heated argument.
She wanted him to stay with her after the fallout, but he was determined to leave and lost his temper and pushed her away when she barricaded the door with a sofa.
The first thing that the woman remembered was waking up with blood in her mouth, but she did not report the incident to the police for 18 months, Hull Crown Court heard.
Joel Chapman, 28, of Terry Street, Hull, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on the woman on February 9, 2019.
David Godfrey, prosecuting, said the couple had been in a relationship for about four years at the time and had a son.
The woman did not contact the police about the violent incident until August 2020 and reported that Chapman had broken her jaw after an argument flared at her home. She had asked him to stay but he wanted to leave and she grabbed hold of him.
The next thing that she remembered was waking up feeling disoriented, with blood coming from her mouth and the feeling that her jaw was moving.
An ambulance was called and she went to Hull Royal Infirmary where reconstructive surgery was needed to insert metal plates.
She reported him to the police 18 months later because of concern about an online post in which he warned what he might do to keep hold of his son.
The incident had happened against the backdrop of a volatile relationship. The woman did not want to give a victim personal statement or assist the police further but her injuries were thought to have healed well.
Chapman told police that he had been trying to leave his ex-girlfriend’s home but she stopped him by barricading the door with a sofa. He knocked her out of the way and she hit her face on a toy box.
He was upset by what happened and got the woman a towel.
This was an unpleasant injury. Fortunately, it seems that it has healed well
Recorder Megan Rhys
Chapman had convictions for six previous offences, including threatening behaviour and, most recently, possessing drugs.
Stephen Robinson, mitigating, said that the couple’s relationship was better now that they had split up and things were cordial between them.
“Neither wishes to rekindle the relationship,” said Mr Robinson. “They argued far too much. It became volatile, then this incident took place. This was an impulsive act, not planned.
“The defendant was trying to leave the property, perhaps in part because he was concerned that things might get worse.
“He knocked or pushed the complainant out of the way. He wasn’t deliberately trying to hurt her in this fashion.
“He accepts that his loss of temper led to very unfortunate consequences for the complainant.
“No further violence has developed and he has a much better type of relationship with the complainant.
“He is in a fairly stable point in his life at the moment. He has been trying to stay off drugs, largely successfully.”
Chapman had proved that he could stay out of trouble for periods of time before and after the incident.
Recorder Megan Rhys told Chapman: “This was a volatile relationship. You accept in the pre-sentence report that it was marked by violence.
“This was an unpleasant injury. Fortunately, it seems that it has healed well.
“You accepted that you lost your temper, knocked her out of the way and she hit her head on a toy box. This was a spontaneous, impulsive and short-lived assault.”
Chapman was given a 21-week suspended prison sentence, 30 days’ rehabilitation and a Building Better Relationships course.