A drunken dad who forced his partner's head into bath water as she washed their young children has dodged jail.
Richard Mellor had been boozing all day when he launched the unprovoked attack at roughly 8pm on April 25 last year.
The family-of-four had visited Burslem Cricket Club where the 40-year-old had been downing shandy and continued drinking after returning home, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports.
He then went into the bathroom where he shoved his girlfriend against the wall, before pushing her head under the water as his children watched on in terror.
Mellor, of Birchfield Road, Abbey Hulton, appeared before Stoke-on-Trent Court where he avoided prison for the assault.
Prosecutor Dean Easthope said: “At around 2pm the complainant, defendant and children went to Burslem Cricket Club. He was drinking during the day.
“They got home at 8pm and he had more alcohol. He said he was going to remove her from the tenancy - she ignored him and ran a bath for the children. They were bathing and playing. After 10 minutes he went in with an angry face.
“He pushed her against the wall and had his hands around her throat. The children were screaming in the bath. He grabbed her from the back of the neck and pushed it towards the water. The children were crying and screaming - she was screaming for help.
“Police attended and the officer asked where the defendant was. He said ‘get out of my way’ and pushed the officer with one hand, causing him to go back. Her view is that the relationship is over.”
Mellor pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm and was convicted of assaulting an emergency worker. The court heard he has four previous convictions for six offences, including a 2007 conviction for battery.
Paul Cliff, mitigating, said Mellor lost his father in 2020 which led to him seeking solace in drinking. He added: “It’s a sad case. They had a good relationship until a serious life event happened.
“He lost his father and two other close family members. He had a loving bond with his father - he struggled to cope and has undergone counselling. He has stopped drinking. He has been a hardworking man since leaving school.
“He has not been able to see his children for over a year, it’s a painful experience for him. He is with his mother.”
Judge David Fletcher sentenced Mellor to a 24-month community order. He must complete 100 hours unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
Mr Fletcher told him: “TIt must’ve been terrifying for the children and something you should think about."
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