A man has been sentenced for assaulting his ex-girlfriend and kicking down her door.
Aaron Paul Ward, 33, appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court today (3 October) to be sentenced for charges of assault by beating and using violence to secure entry.
Prosecutor Keith Ballinger said the defendant, of Lennox Drive, started shouting at his then-partner when she returned home from a night out at 2am on 27 August.
The woman looked away from him while he spouted verbal abuse, before feeling pain on the inside of her thigh – where he’d thrown a mobile phone at her.
Later she asked Ward if they could talk, but he pushed her face with his hand. After, he slapped her hand away with ‘force’, which was said to cause her pain.
The defendant was arrested and the nine-year relationship ended. He was released on police bail, with conditions not to contact the woman, following a stay in custody.
A day after the attack, he sent his victim a text message to apologise for the bruising he had caused.
On 2 October, and still on bail, Ward went to the woman’s address at 9.35am – having earlier contacted her to say he wanted to collect items he owned.
When he arrived, she did not open the door but within minutes, he had kicked his way through the door – scaring his six-year-old daughter in the process.
Once inside the property, he went upstairs to find his ex-partner on the phone with the police and he immediately left the house.
Mr Ballinger said the victim was “heartbroken” for her child, who was left scared. She told police that she wants him to leave her alone and feels physically exhausted following the incidents.
Liz Highams, defending, said that there were often arguments on both sides, but her client accepts that he went too far and assaulted her.
“He shouldn’t have done what he’s done”, she said.
Ms Highams said Ward accepts the relationship is over and that the victim has been allowing him into her home, despite the case and bail conditions.
District Judge Joanna Dickens said: “Any offence of violence that happens in the domestic context is really serious.
“I am assuming that you’re stronger than her, and in domestic cases, it’s about power… it’s one of those crimes that people think they can get away with and it’s often but not always, about power.
“You say the two of you have an explosive relationship… but when people explode, she is more likely to get hurt.
“This was absolutely terrifying for your daughter… she can’t unknow what happened because it must have been very frightening from her dad.”
Judge Dickens imposed a 12-month community order with the requirement to complete 25 rehabilitation activity days and 80 hours of unpaid work.
A restraining order was also imposed, meaning the defendant cannot contact the victim (save for child contact) or go to her home address. He must also pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.
