A Swindon man with a history of domestic violence offences against women has been sentenced for attacking his girlfriend in front of her son.
Damian Harman, 37, appeared before Swindon Magistrates’ Court this morning after admitting to assaulting his former partner of 18 months after she had accused him of cheating on her.
Prosecutor Keith Ballinger said that the victim had woken to a message on her phone on the morning of 9 April 2020. The message was from another female claiming her partner had been ‘trying it on with her’ the night before.
She headed downstairs to confront Harman about the message. He is said to have become angry and told her not to believe he allegation made by the female. He said he’d only ‘popped round’.
Whilst arguing with Harman about the matter, she discovered what she believed to be a ‘love bite’ on his neck. She asked him to leave the address and went upstairs to pack his bags for him.
He heads upstairs behind her and grabs her dressing gown and pulls her towards him in the bedroom. She repeats her requests for him to leave. Harman then hits her to the face, causing her nose to bleed. The impact caused her to fall to the floor in the assault.
The victim’s son, 9, shouts “leave my mummy alone” following the attack and Harman immediately leaves the house. He messaged her soon after apologising but also blaming her for what happened.
He originally claimed that he was packing his things when she came into the bedroom and attacked him. He said he acted in self-defence. A trial date was set but he pleaded guilty to the offence when she showed up for the trial.
The court heard how Harman, of Croft Road, Swindon, has several previous convictions for domestic assaults on a number of former partners.
Defending, solicitor Mr Glendenning said his client had not been taking his medication for a split personality disorder and was not engaging with doctors at the time of the incident.
He added that he is now taking the required medication and is in a better state of mind. He encouraged magistrates to impose a community order including rehabilitation as Harman is in a better place to engage with probation.
Harman was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment suspended for 24 months provided he undertakes a Building Better Relationships programme and 15 rehabilitation days. He was also told to pay £100 compensation to the victim and £600 court costs for the aborted trial.
The court also issued him with a 24-month restraining order preventing him from contacting his victim directly or indirectly. He is also banned from entering Wayte Street, Moredon.
Harman was also banned from driving for 36 months after pleading guilty to driving whilst unfit.
Police pulled Harman over in a black Range Rover after they spotted him driving erratically on the A419 in Swindon. He was observed travelling in excess of the speed limited and drifting across lanes.
He failed a roadside drugwipe and in custody provided a urine sample which showed he was under the influence of cannabis at the time of driving.
