Dad jailed for violent attack

A father who launched a sickening attack on the mother of his child after the youngster refused to give him a hug has been jailed.

John Smart became enraged when his young daughter wouldn’t give him a hug - and believed the mother had turned the child against him.

The 28-year-old, who was already subjected to a restraining order against the woman, headbutted, punched and choked her in front of the “hysterical” child in October last year.

Prosecutor Mark Giulinai told Newcastle Crown Court how the couple had been together three-and-a-half years ago, but later split up.

Smart, of Silksworth Hall Drive, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, pleaded guilty to breaching a restraining order and GBH. The court heard how the defendant had previous convictions of battery, harassment, criminal damage and breach of a restraining order - some in relation to the same victim.

Alec Burns, defending, told the court how the couple were “on and off ”, and said that the victim was aware there was a restraining order in place.

Sentencing him to three years and three months in prison, Judge Simon Batiste said: “This is a serious matter. “You are 28 years old and have a significant record for a number of offences of common assault on the same victim. You attended the home address of the victim to some contact with your daughter. When your daughter did not hug you you took the view it was her turning your child against you.

“You have no victim awareness and no remorse. The only significant mitigation is of your guilty plea.”