‘Immature’ thug throws ‘brick’ at girlfriend’s head
AN ‘immature’ boyfriend threw a ‘brick’ at his girlfriend, dragged her along the floor and punched her after she refused to go to Middleton with him.
Karl Boyd, 23, flew into a rage after his partner declined to go to the Rochdale town.
He narrowly avoided jail after being hauled before Manchester Crown Court for the attack on the woman, who is in her 20s.
In court the pair’s relationship was described as ‘fraught.’
Prosecuting, Suzanne Hargreaves, said the couple had been together for a number of years.
She said Mr Boyd had previously made ‘threats,’ but that police had not been called out to any report of domestic violence.
The court heard that on September 16 last year, the pair were in Victoria Avenue in Moston when Boyd became angry.
Boyd asked her whether she wanted to go to Middleton with him, but she declined.
Ms Hargreaves said the woman walked away to get in a taxi, and that Boyd approached her in an ‘aggressive manner.’
Boyd then threw a ‘brick’ at the back of her head and she became dizzy and fell to the floor.
Boyd then began to drag his partner along the floor before punching her in the face.
Ms Hargreaves said the ‘brick’ was variously described in witness statements as a brick, a part brick and a pebble.
The woman suffered a cut to the back of her head and bruising to the eye.
Defending, Matthew Howarth said it was ‘lucky’ the woman was not more seriously injured.
He said Boyd, of Howden Road, Blackley, who has no previous convictions, was remorseful.
Boyd pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and was given a suspended sentence.
A pre-sentence report described Boyd as ‘immature.’
Judge David Stockdale QC said because of Boyd’s guilty plea, as he has no previous convictions and his show of remorse, he was able to hand down a suspended sentence.
Sentencing Boyd to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, the judge also ordered Boyd to complete 80 hours of unpaid work, attend 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days and observe a curfew for three months.
Addressing Boyd, the judge said: “This was an inexcusable attack.
“The violence took place in public in broad daylight and you used a weapon.
“Whether that was a stone or a brick, it matters not.
“It was a hard object with which you struck her.
“The courts take these cases of domestic violence extremely seriously.
“The courts will do what they can to protect the victims of domestic violence in all the circumstances.”