Woman left with black eye after man beat her with own crutch

Daniel James hit the woman after an argument and beat her with her crutch after she slapped him back.

The victim, who had crutches for a broken ankle, was struck four times to her body and once to her temple after James turned up at her home in late December 2022.

The 33-year-old of no fixed address appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court for sentencing for three counts of causing grievous bodily harm, two counts of causing actual bodily harm and one count of attempted theft on Wednesday, December 20.

Breaking bail conditions, the defendant returned to the woman’s house on February 12 where he forced his way in to get money for drugs.

Prosecuting, Stuart Ellacott, told the court that the family were sleeping when James barged into the house.

When the woman refused to give him money the defendant punched her in the face and pushed her teenage daughter who had come out of her room.

James then picked up a wooden slat from a bed frame that was near the front door and used it to hit each member of the family, including a young boy.

The woman needed stitches for a split cheek, her daughter suffered a cut face and chipped tooth and the boy had injuries to his eye.

The woman said in a statement to the court that she has been left traumatised and scarred both physically and mentally.

Her son is afraid to go near her injured face in fear of causing her pain and the woman said she no longer feels safe in her home.

She said: “I am jumpy at every noise and afraid when the front door goes.”

James has a history of offending with 33 convictions for 72 offences since 2005.

Mitigating, Mark Florida-James, told the court that the defendant is ‘ashamed for the disgraceful incidents’ and that he had not been taking his medication for five months prior to being arrested.

His mother said in a statement to the court that her son has had issues from a very young age but that she has ‘never seen him so well’ since being in custody and taking his medication.

Mr Florida-James added: “He knows what to expect from today and that he fully deserves it but he is hopeful for the future.”

Her Honour Judge Evans KC said that domestic violence has a terrible effect both on children who witness it or are victims.

She added: “It is life-changing for them.”

Judge Evans jailed him for 45 months for the attacks, as well as an unrelated offence of attempted theft.

The defendant was also given a five-year restraining order against the victim.