A domestic abuser has been jailed after launching an attack on another girlfriend.
35-year-old Jake Wheeler was drunk and high on cocaine when he punched the woman in the face after she attempted to climb out of her Royal Wootton Bassett flat window to escape.
The couple had argued after the paranoid defendant, of The Old Manor in Bradenstoke, was caught checking the victim’s mobile phone and then accused her of cheating.
Prosecutor Charlotte Evans told Swindon Crown Court today (Thursday) that the police were called to reports of a woman in distress with injuries, having ran to a nearby shop for help.
When officers arrived on scene early on 9 September, the woman – who was wearing only a t-shirt and her underwear – spoke to them about what happened and showed them her wounds.
Ms Evans said that Wheeler punched the woman in the face and broke her glasses, and threw an unopened can of cider at her head. The attack left her with multiple injuries.
The court heard that the defendant was on a suspended sentence order for breaching a community order imposed for assaults on a different former girlfriend in July 2021.
As previously reported by Wiltshire 999s, the victim in that case was pinned to the sofa and strangled, and bitten on her face and arm. She was “very distressed” and “struggling to breathe”.
“You’re supposed to behave when you’re on a suspended sentence”, Judge Tait said.
Tom Wilkins, defending, said that his client takes “full responsibility and accountability” and has completed cocaine and alcohol awareness courses whilst in prison on remand.
He added that Wheeler is “committed to being teetotal” on his release and said his issues stem from the death of his brother in 2016, for whom he has “never grieved”.
In a letter read out in court, Wheeler wrote that he was “genuinely full remorse”. However, a probation officer was not entirely convinced by his remorse.
Judge Tait described him as a “danger to women” and handed down a prison sentence of 21 months, stating: “It is my duty to protect the public from men like you, particularly females.”
He also imposed a five-year restraining order, which prohibits the defendant from going to High Street in Royal Wootton Bassett, contacting the victim or posting about her online.
Addressing the victim in court, Judge Tait said: “If he breaches [the restraining order], his feet won’t touch the ground – he’ll be back in prison”.
Turning his head to Wheeler’s parents, who attended the court to support him, he said: “I’m sorry he’s let you down”.
