A man who assaulted his former partner in the kitchen of her own home has been sentenced by a judge who described his domestic violence as “unacceptable”.
Christopher Paul McKenzie, 35, committed his crime against the woman in Keswick on November 8 last year.
When he appeared at Carlisle Crown Court today, McKenzie admitted assaulting his then partner by beating.
He did so on a formal written basis which was accepted by the prosecution. In this, he agreed that he assaulted the woman by pushing and grabbing her in the kitchen at her home.
He lost his temper following an argument although the woman did not sustain any injury as a result of the assault.
McKenzie was said to have 35 past offences on his criminal record which included numerous assaults, being drunk and disorderly, and breaching court orders.
He had been jailed late last year for flouting a criminal behaviour order by entering Keswick’s Booths and Spar stores.
Although McKenzie was released on licence, he was arrested for a bail breach and returned to custody to serve the remainder of that three-month sentence.
He had since remained locked up on remand.Sean Harkin, defending, said McKenzie’s past brushes with the law had stemmed from alcohol consumption although his lawyer told the court his client was motivated to remain abstinent when free.
Recorder Julian Shaw imposed a 53-day prison sentence for the assault which, he told McKenzie, would result in his immediate release from custody.
“You don’t need me to tell you that any domestic violence is utterly unacceptable, it is criminal and it deserves punishment,” said the judge.
McKenzie, of no fixed address, was banned from contacting the woman in any way for five years, and from going within 100 metres of her home.
