A man punched and kicked his girlfriend in front of their one-year-old baby, a court has heard.
Jordan Caren, 23, of New Hall Lane, Liverpool, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty with one count of assault by beating and another of causing actual bodily harm. Daniel Bramhall, prosecuting, said Caren and his girlfriend, Abby Mckai, had been in a relationship for three years and had a child together.
On May 27, the defendant had been at Ms Mckai’s home looking after the baby, but went to the local pub when she got home. He returned at around 7pm intoxicated, and an argument began where he acted aggressively towards her.
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With their baby in the room, Caren accused Ms Mckai of cheating on him and began screaming in her face. She asked him to move away, and he kicked her to the upper left leg which left bruises.
He proceeded to punch her in the ribs but soon after left and she did not report this incident to the police. Days later, on June 6, he turned up to her home to see the child and was let inside.
While Ms Mckai was upstairs on the phone, Caren became angry again and accused her of speaking to another man. He threw a phone across the room and threw the victim on the bed before punching her in the ribs while she was lying down.
Caren put his hands on the back of the victim’s neck and applied pressure but did not cause difficulty breathing. The child was also present during this attack, and began to cry, which caused the father-of-one to get off and leave the house.
He was arrested on June 23, and gave a no comment interview, but did provide a pre-prepared statement where he denied the offences. In her statement to police following the incident, the victim said she is worried that one day he will kill her or leave their baby alone.
Brendan Carville, defending, told the court that the victim was now pregnant with Caren’s second child, but they are no longer in a relationship. He said: “He is a very young 23-year-old, and is very immature.
“He really is deeply ashamed as to how he has treated Ms Mckai, the mother of his child and soon to be second child.” In sentencing, Recorder Richard Conley said: “This was a bullying and nasty offence committed against your partner, the mother of your child, somebody who ought to have felt safe in your presence.
“You are young and you have an opportunity to change. It is in everybody’s interest that you learn how to control your behaviour, I am giving you a chance.”
He was handed a seven month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work plus 15 rehabilitation days. He also must complete the building better relationships programme and a restraining order banning him from contacting the victim was implemented for five years.
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