AN abusive man who left his disabled partner “exceptionally frightened” after assaulting her in her own home has been given a restraining order.
Leon Clarke, 42, had previously been in a relationship with Danielle Taylor, who uses a wheelchair because she has spina bifida and hydrocephalus.
Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard last Thursday how Clarke had been an unpaid carer for Miss Taylor, but would often become violent when he drank alcohol to excess.
In July this year, Miss Taylor was in her flat when Clarke entered unannounced and asked for a phone charger.
Sharon Hall, prosecuting, said the situation escalated and ended with the police attending the victim's address in Clacton.
Mrs Hall said: “They started to argue because she wanted him to leave.
“She is not able to walk properly and uses a wheelchair to get around.
“She crawls around to get around the home – she is quite a vulnerable victim.
“He sat on the bed, grabbed her wrist and bent her arm back. He said he wasn’t leaving and she got a bruise on her wrist.
“She then screamed he is hurting her – she took herself into the bathroom and called the police.”
The court heard there had been eight previous police call-outs to the property because of domestic incidents.
Clarke, of Gorse Way, Clacton, admitted assault by beating.
Natasha Nair, mitigating, said Clarke had been “nothing but remorseful” after the offence and his inability to access alcohol since he has been in custody has helped him move forward with his life.
She said: “It’s not that he doesn’t appreciate the severity of his actions.
“He explains not being able to drink in prison has done him the world of good.”
Bench chairman Lucy Lavender said: “This was very alarming and distressing assault on a vulnerable victim.
“You bruised her and you grabbed her wrists and you made her feel exceptionally frightened.”
Clarke was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and pay Miss Taylor £200 in compensation.
He was also given a two-year restraining order preventing him from contacting his victim.
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