A Leeds thug dragged his daughter's partner out of his car and left her bleeding on the roadside after she carried on playing with the vehicle's radio when he told her to stop.
Shane Higgins, 38, had been drinking with his daughter and partner when the two of them went to get more alcohol on August 2, 2020. During the journey, the woman began to play with the radio and believed Higgins was joking when he told her to stop.
Prosecutor Harry Crowson told Leeds Crown Court on Thursday: "He became aggressive and told her if she didn't stop he would hit her. She didn't think he was serious and continued. He stopped the car, got out and went around to her side. He dragged her from the vehicle to the floor where she hit her face against the curb, causing injury to her nose. Then, showing no real regard for her wellbeing, simply got in the car and drove away, leaving her some distance from where they had been and her home."
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The woman called her partner who picked her up and took her back to where they had been, although they was not allowed in. An ambulance was called as Higgins arrived back and began acting aggressively. He denied the attack or being anywhere nearby but went on to plead guilty to plead guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Higgins also fell to be sentenced for dangerous driving, after refusing to stop for officers on August 20, 2020. He led them on a chase where he reached speeds of almost 80mph in 30mph zones and ran red lights "bullying" his way through traffic, the court heard.
Mr Crowson said: "He stopped and refused to get out and had to be removed by officers. He was aggressive and had to be restrained. He continued to be aggressive when he was put into the police van."
In December 2020, Higgins attacked a security guard at St James' Hospital after he had been seen drinking on the premises and asked to leave. Mr Crowson told the court the guard and two colleagues "tried to get him away from the public" but "his behaviour continued with him making threats."
It was said Higgins called those trying to move him "motherf******" and offered to fight the security guard before getting himself into a "fighting stance."
Mr Crowson said: "They tried to get him to the ground but his arm hit the guard in the face. He was detained until police arrived."
Higgins was taken to Elland Road police station where he was detained and went on to assault a detention officer by striking him in the chest. Officers had to "take him to the ground" and the detention officer suffered a scratch to his forearm.
In another incident during his violent crime spree, in May 2021, Higgins visited the home of his former partner and two sons. The woman - who had described her relationship with Higgins as "hell" hid inside the house while their sons dealt with him. Mr Crowson said: "[Before going to the house] He sent a text to his son saying 'Tell your mum I'm on my way, she knows what for.' He went into the garden and she hid in the bedroom and their two sons went out to speak to him.
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"He then said 'Where's your s*** of a mum, the dirty tramp, where's my charger, tell your mum she's had it when I get hold of her.'"
It was said the police went to the house to deal with Higgins, but he managed to send 15 voicemails to the other where he made threats to kill her. He also sent a voicemail message to his son - who is understood to have been called as a witness in a case against Higgins. In it he said: "She will be on her knees begging when she sees you being strangled...Trust me the day you turn up to court will be the last day you breathe."
Mr Crowson said that case against Higgins was not proceeded with and his son did not turn up to court for it.
As well as dangerous driving, Higgins went on to plead guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault by beating, assaulting an emergency worker, harassment and intimidation.
Mitigating, Mike Walsh told the court he was aware he would be facing an immediate custodial sentence and said the offences had taken place three years ago. He said: "He is somebody who has difficulties emotionally and mentally and you will have seen in the report that reasons that he attributes this to is news he received when he was younger and he has spent a good deal of time trying to wrestle with in his mind.
"There are issues which he is working on that have manifested themselves in his frustrations."
Mr Walsh told the court Higgins now accepts his issues with alcohol.
His Honour Judge Ray Singh handed Higgins a sentence of 42 months, from which he will be released from custody on licence halfway through. The judge also disqualified Higgins from driving and made him the subject of a 10-year restraining order prohibiting from contacting the woman in the first assault, his ex-partner and son.
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