DRUNKEN DAD-OF-2 PUSHED HIS PARTNER’S HEAD IN BATH WATER WHILE SHE WAS WASHING KIDS
Unprovoked attack after shandy session
A DRUNKEN dad pushed his partner’s head into the bath water as she washed their young children.
Richard Mellor launched the unprovoked attack after an allday booze binge.
Stoke-on-trent Crown Court heard the family-of-four had been on a day out to Burslem Cricket Club. Mellor had been drinking shandy during the day and continued when they returned home at around 8pm on April 25 last year.
The 40-year-old industrial cleaner then entered the bathroom and pushed his girlfriend of six years against the wall and shoved her head in the water as the children screamed.
Now Mellor, of Birchfield Road, Abbey Hulton, has been spared prison for the assault.
Prosecutor Dean Easthope said: “At around 2pm the complainant, defendant and children went to Burslem Cricket Club. He was drinking during the day.
“They got home at 8pm and he had more alcohol. He said he was going to remove her from the tenancy – she ignored him and ran a bath for the children. They were bathing and playing. After 10 minutes he went in with an angry face.
“He pushed her against the wall and had his hands around her throat. The children were screaming in the bath. He grabbed her from the back of the neck and pushed it towards the water.
“The children were crying and screaming – she was screaming for help. Police attended and the officer asked where the defendant was. He said ‘get out of my way’ and pushed the officer with one hand, causing him to go back. Her view is that the relationship is over.”
Mellor pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm and was convicted of assaulting an emergency worker. The court heard he has four previous convictions for six offences, including a 2007 conviction for battery.
Paul Cliff, mitigating, said Mellor lost his father in 2020 which led to him seeking solace in drinking.
He added: “It’s a sad case. They had a good relationship until a serious life event happened. He lost his father and two other close family members. He had a loving bond with his father
– he struggled to cope and has undergone counselling.
“He has stopped drinking. He has been a hardworking man since leaving school. He has not been able to see his children for over a year, it’s a painful experience for him. He is with his mother.”
Judge David Fletcher sentenced Mellor to a 24-month community order. He must complete 100 hours unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
Mr Fletcher told him: “It must’ve been terrifying for the children and something you should think about.”