Man banned from seeing ex attacked her at home

COURT TOLD HER THREW AN ELECTRIC HEATER AT WOMAN

A DERBY man assaulted his ex-girlfriend despite being ordered not to have any contact with her.

Terrence Austin had been given a restraining order and a non-molestation order preventing him from contacting his ex-partner following the breakdown of their relationship.

However, this did not stop the 44-year-old from contacting her on multiple occasions in March last year, including sending messages accusing her of sleeping with other men.

This culminated in an incident where he went round to her address at her invitation and assaulted her.

At a sentencing hearing at Derby Crown Court on Friday, August 27, the court was told that Austin’s relationship with the woman had broken down in January 2020.

Mark Knowles, prosecuting, said:

“On January 19, she obtained a nonmolestation order.

“There’s a restraining order which expires on February 1, 2022, and there’s a non-molestation order which expired on July 21, this year. Both were in force at the time [of the incidents].

“He was prevented from contacting her and threatening violence against her.”

He said both Austin and his ex-girlfriend were open about the fact they took drugs.

Mr Knowles said that Austin breached the orders on four separate occasions by sending text messages and calling the woman.

“He called her and accused her of sleeping with other men,” he said. “She recognised his voice. The magistrates found the contact was not invited by her.”

However, he said magistrates found that the latest and most serious incident developed after she invited Austin to help move some furniture at her address in Chaddesden.

Mr Knowles said: “She said she was unable to transport some of the furniture and items. They spent some time drinking and eating.

“He says he took money that was actually his and she attacked him. She says he picked up an electric heater, threw it at her and hit her in the head.

“She remembers shouting at him, he pushed her onto the bed and took some money from the bedside table. He claims it was his money.”

Austin, of Stenson Road, Sunny Hill, had denied charges of stalking, assault, breach of restraining order and breach of a non-molestation order, but was found guilty at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court earlier this year.

Since then he has spent more than 160 days in custody awaiting sentencing at Derby Crown Court. A previous sentencing hearing on July 30 was adjourned to Friday, August 27, to allow for details of the case to be uploaded onto the court’s digital case system.

Denney Lau, mitigating, told the court his client accepted he had breached the order.

“He has remained in custody since March 27, this year,” he said.

“It’s the first time in his life he has been in custody, he tells me it’s been a wake-up call for him.

“His plan is to move to Leicester to reside with his daughter and to move on from the whole ordeal.”

At a sentencing hearing on Wednesday Judge Nirmal Shant QC, handed Austin a two-year community order.

He was also ordered to undertake 30 days of rehabilitation activity requirement, given a two-month curfew from 7pm to 7am and a five-year restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim.

It’s the first time in his life he has been in custody, he tells me it’s been a wake-up call.

Denney Lau