Ex-partner’s nose broken after argument
A FATHER “backhanded” his estranged partner and broke her nose during a car ride home from a children's party, a court heard.
Unemployed 46-year-old Craig Sterio, from Adamstown in Cardiff, was a passenger in the front seat of a car that former partner Stacey Rumney was driving home from a children's party which his kids had been to on the evening of April 8 earlier this year.
But an argument broke out, prosecutor Nigel Friar told Cardiff Crown Court.
“They were travelling back from a children's party when Mr Sterio became agitated,” Mr Friar said.
“He [Mr Sterio] has a number of problems with alcohol and had about six cans of cider and had been drinking in the pub.”
The court heard how Sterio started swearing in front of the children before throwing a mobile phone at the dashboard.
He then pulled the handbrake as his former partner was driving down Lansdowne Road in Cardiff, before threatening to “smash the car up”, Mr Friar said.
Ms Rumney carried on driving but Sterio “continued to act in an aggressive manner”.
Five minutes later, along Colin Way, Sterio again pulled up the handbrake.
Mr Friar said: “He said, ‘I'm going to backhand you now' and he immediately used his right hand and slapped her to the face with considerable force.
“Blood was flowing from her nose. She put him in a headlock and stopped him from doing anything else.
“She then got out of the car and so did the kids and Mr Sterio drove off.”
The court heard that Ms Rumney was left with a nose bleed with “extensive pain” that left her nose deformed and fractured.
Police officers were flagged down after Ms Rumney and the children were left and Ms Rumney was taken to hospital.
Ms Rumney told the court in a victim impact statement that the incident had a “huge impact on her emotions” and said she “felt numb” afterwards.
After he was arrested, Sterio admitted what he had done in interview.
He said he threw the phone after an argument, and pulled the handbrake of the car and tried to push Ms Rumney out of the car when he hit her face.
The court heard that Sterio has appeared 39 times in front of court for 130 offences, including some for violence against Ms Rumney.
Back in September last year, he smashed the front and back windows of her car at her home and had a community order imposed, which he breached with this latter offence.
Defence barrister Christopher Evans said that Sterio had “two sides” to him.
“There are two sides to Mr Sterio,” he said. “When he has consumed alcohol these events spiral out of control and that is what happened on the day in question.
“Since this offence, he hasn't had a drop of alcohol.
“He wants to be given a final chance but he realises he is skating on thin ice.”
Sterio, of Sapphire Street, Adamstown, pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Recorder Peter Rouch sentenced Sterio to eight months' imprisonment, suspended for two years.
There was no action for the breach of the community order.
He must also take part in a rehabilitation activity, required for up to 15 days, have a curfew imposed on him, and pay a victim surcharge of £140.
“It is quite clear that you have an innate anger problem and that manifests into violence,” Mr Rouch told Sterio.
“Any man should feel thoroughly ashamed of what you did.”