A Calne man has pleaded guilty to battering his girlfriend in a rage after his toddler inadvertently caused a fire in the family home.
Sean Wood, 40, appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court this morning (13 September) where he pleaded guilty to one count of assault by beating dating back to 7 November last year.
Crown prosecutor Keith Ballinger said the defendant, of Braemor Road, had been in a relationship with his victim for around three years and they had a one-year-old together.
His then-girlfriend, who is named Ms R in this report, had left her son unsupervised whilst she used the toilet. During that short time, he managed to turn on the hob set fire to a crisp packet.
The child was taken to a neighbour’s house whilst she deal with the fire. She later explained the incident to Wood and an argument ensued.
The following evening the pair visited their next-door neighbours’ home and gifted them a plant as a thank you. They were invited in and began drinking with them.
Wood repeatedly brought up the incident from the previous day, making the situation uncomfortable. During the visit, he deliberately stood on Ms R‘s bare feet with his shoe.
When they left the neighbour’s address, his anger followed him back and upon returning home he pushed her out of a door causing her to lose balance and fall to the floor.
Moments later, whilst he was holding their son in his arms, he shoulder barged Ms R, shoving her into a stair gate and causing injuries to her back.
When she attempted to leave the property, he told her she wasn’t allowed to leave with their child, and he pushed her again.
The rage continued, with Wood pushing on her neck and causing her to struggle with breathing. She also suffered a black eye in the incident.
When the court was shown photographs of her injuries, district judge Joanna Dickens said: “I haven’t seen injuries like that for a very long time, this is really really serious.”
Emma Hillier, defending, told the court that Wood’s young son had a fascination with buttons and the pair had agreed to turn the hob off at the main switch when it wasn’t in use but it had not happened.
She said the incident scared him, but he fully accepts causing the injuries.
Thought his solicitor, he said: “I’m absolutely disgusted with myself… I am heartbroken that I’ve done this to her.”
The court heard Wood is living with his mother, who was in court supporting him, works as a supply chain manager for Pure Electronics in Chippenham and has three children aged 18, 14, and 3.
Ms Dickens imposed a 14-week prison sentence but suspended it for 24 months.
Wood was ordered to complete a building better relationships course, 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work.
