A DRUNK man who forced his way into the Carlisle home of his ex-wife’s new partner, attacking them both and stamping on her, has been spared an immediate jail term.
Jonathan Peter Hall, 39, was described as “very angry” and “almost frothing at the mouth” when he attended the city address at around 8pm on July 29 having knocked back up to eight pints.
Hall repeatedly punched Matthew Garner, threatened to kill him, slammed his head into a wall and continued to swing his fists at him, around ex-wife Hayley Hall, as she desperately tried to intervene.
After Mrs Hall was knocked to the ground and banged her head, she described a knee from her former husband to her shoulder before he stamped backwards on to her arm, causing bruising. After a neighbour arrived, Mrs Hall called police but she later vomited, passed out and was taken to hospital.
Carlisle Crown Court heard Mrs Hall later spoke of her “terror” that night, both she and Mr Garner also describing an ongoing effect on their anxiety and confidence levels.
Remorseful Hall, said to be a hard-working weekend factory manager, admitted an actual bodily harm assault on his ex-wife, harassment and assaulting Mr Garner. His lawyer spoke of the catalyst being the death of Hall’s mother, and outlined a mistaken belief the couple might get back together after their marriage ended. “A red mist came over him,” said Tariq Khawam, defending. “He wishes to apologise.”
Hall, of Cumwhinton Gardens, Carlisle, was also said to have bombarded Mrs Hall with texts during July despite being earlier taken to task by police following previous unwanted contact.
After hearing mitigation during today’s sentencing hearing (FRI), Recorder Tom Gilbart suspended an eight-month jail term for two years. He ordered Hall to complete unpaid work, rehabilitation and a night-time curfew, and banned him from contacting the victims for two years.
“You have now lost your good character through your aggressive foolishness,” the judge told him. “This was a quite disgraceful incident.”
