A Carlisle man who hit his partner with a see-saw and hanging basket after barging into her home has been spared an immediate prison sentence.
City magistrates heard 28-year-old Kieron Murray had past violence on his criminal record which included punching a female police dog handler for which he had been locked up.
Murray found himself back in trouble last month as a result of his relationship with a woman which she had described as toxic and getting worse due to his drink and drug use.
On September 2, Murray returned home from the pub at around 6.30pm before leaving. He was back at 6am the following morning, banging on the door. His now ex-partner was concerned for her safety although Murray left the address a second time.
But when he went back again at noon, he demanded both to be let in and for the woman to return money he had earlier given her.
Despite her saying he couldn’t enter the house, Murray barged his way inside. He verbally abused her and threw a see-saw which struck her leg, causing immediate bruising and swelling. He then threw a hanging basket containing soil which also hit the woman and went all over her property, before leaving on a bike.
Days later Murray called the woman multiple times using different phone numbers, prompting her to tell police she wanted all contact between them to stop.
“The whole situation has caused me anxiety,” she said. “I am very low. I find myself just becoming emotionally upset from out of nowhere.” The woman also described ramping up home security, seeking trauma counselling and not wishing to stay in her house any more.
Murray, of Esk Road, Carlisle, admitted using violence to secure entry to premises, assault by beating and harassment.
Tariq Khawam, defending, said Murray wished to apologise to the woman for behaviour which had left him appalled. He was aghast about the impact his crime conduct had but insisted he didn’t mean to strike the woman with objects thrown in anger. “He is somebody who is in a deep emotional abyss himself because of the breakdown of the relationship,” Mr Khawam told the court.
Magistrates suspended a 16-week jail term for two years. Murray must complete a rehabilitation requirement, 40 hours’ unpaid work and a 60-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement. He was banned from contacting the woman for five years and must pay her £200 compensation.
