The court congratulated a man who assaulted his girlfriend after he announced their pregnancy.
Appearing at Swindon Magistrates’ Court this morning (22 September), 27-year-old Robert Loverage pleaded guilty to a charge of assault by beating.
Prosecutor Tom Power said the woman made a full statement about the incident but later retracted it in a bid to stop criminal proceedings – but the case was brought to court regardless.
The defendant, of Linnett Lane, Melksham, was involved in an argument with his girlfriend over finances in the moments prior to her locking him out of the home on 5 June this year.
Loverage asked for his possessions, and she proceeded to push them through the letterbox. Some were unable to fit, so the door was opened and he barged his way back inside.
She told him to leave or she would call the police. Fearing she would alert the authorities, he knocked the phone out of the woman’s hand before headbutting her in the face.
The assault caused her to stumble into a radiator, bite her tongue and crack a tooth. The victim was left shocked and shaking, with the police were called to the scene and Loverage arrested.
In custody, he told officers he was sorry and that he did it out of frustration – admitting the crime in full. He said he “felt horrible” and regretted his actions from the outset.
He also sent a text message to the woman apologising for his actions. He described his attack as “lashing out” but accepted there was “no excuse” for what happened. He went on to say he hates himself and told her that he’s “not a monster”.
Representing himself, he said he is currently living with his parents but his girlfriend is now pregnant. He said he has “promising job” and got back together with the victim following a break in the relationship following the assault.
He told the magistrates that the incident was “completely out of the blue”.
Loverage was told to pay a fine of £369, costs of £85 and a £37 surcharge. The bench congratulated him on him the pregnancy as he left the dock.
