Repeat offender jailed for assault on woman

Repeat offender jailed for assault on woman

Andrew Leslie Rawlinson (50) slapped one woman and tried to pull a ring off her finger as they got into an argument. He admitted one count of common assault.

The court was told how he had an extensive record for violence against women and had previously fractured a woman’s cheekbone and head-butted another.

Delivering the sentence, Deputy Bailiff Tim Le Cocq said: ‘This isn’t the first time you’ve been in court for violence against this victim.

‘Domestic violence characterises your relationships with women, and the report finds you control and apportionate blame onto the victims.’

Attorney General Robert MacRae told the court the woman had attended a meeting at around 12.15pm, and it took longer than expected.

She returned home at 3.30pm, and the defendant questioned her over why she was late.

He put his hands on her shoulders to calm her down after she became agitated, and when this didn’t work he slapped her twice.

He requested she remove her ring, she refused and he took hold of her hand and tried to pull it free.

Rawlinson then took the victim to the ground and placed his hands on either side of her face, accepting he may have injured her mouth.

He then picked up a wooden stick and threw it at her, before the complainant managed to run away, stating she ‘kept running until I was safe’.

She told officers she had been assaulted by Rawlinson, and officers noted injuries to her face. Rawlinson was arrested later that evening.

An examination found a series of bruises and abrasions to her face.

On the day in question Rawlinson said he was unhappy she had gone shopping with a friend after her meeting, and said they should ‘call it a day’.

He claimed when she returned she went ‘off the rails and berserk’, and he had tried to calm her down as she was swinging
her arms and reacting violently.

He denied kicking or punching her but said he may have caught her when he restrained her.

Mr MacRae said: ‘The court views cases of domestic violence as serious. This is not the first case of domestic violence against this victim.’

He said the defendant felt he had an entitlement to use violence and said he was jailed last year for an attack on the same victim.

Advocate Sarah Dale, defending, said her client did not oppose a restraining order, but an indefinite period was not justified.

She said her client admitted that his actions amounted to common assault, adding he should receive full credit for his guilty plea.

Advocate Dale said her client was willing to change, adding: ‘As he cannot see her, he wishes me to take this opportunity to apologise to the complainant.’

Rawlinson was jailed for 12 months and the Deputy Bailiff added: ‘You have been given the opportunity in the past to address your behaviour through non-custodial sentences, but that is no longer an option.’

Jurats Collette Crill and Steven Austin-Vautier were were sitting.

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