Shelton thug jailed for drunken attack in Clayton

A VIOLENT drunk who subjected his girlfriend to a 'sustained beating' in her own home has been jailed.

Carl Richards, who has a history of assaulting women, left Clare Haney with severe facial injuries.

And in a bizarre twist, Richards suffered a broken back in two places, a broken leg and ankle when he jumped out of a window in his victim's flat in Norwich Place, Clayton.

Prosecutor Neil Ahuja told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court how Miss Haney ran to a neighbouring flat in a distressed state following the attack, in the early hours of November 15.

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"She had been drinking," said Mr Ahuja. "Her face was very swollen. She had bruising and swelling to her eyes. She could not properly open her eyes and was bleeding from her mouth."

Police arrived and asked Miss Haney where Richards was. Mr Ahuja said: "They went to the victim's flat and found a window open. They found the defendant lying on his back at the rear of the flat. He had jumped from the window some floors up and broke an ankle and his back."

Miss Haney told police she and Richards had been drinking cider.

She said Richards reacted angrily when she accepted an invitation from a neighbour to go upstairs for a drink. She said he punched her and pulled her hair.

Mr Ahuja said: "It is clear she has been subjected to a sustained beating at the hands of this defendant, evidenced by the degree and severity of the swelling to her face and mouth, and the injuries to her eyes.

"Clumps of her hair were pulled out and there were bloodstains on the walls of the flat."

Mr Ahuja added the cleaner at the block of flats was shocked at the Miss Haney's appearance.

Richards, aged 28, of Snow Hill, Shelton, who has 11 convictions for 41 offences, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. His previous offences included assaults on former partners and his mother.

Joanne Wallbanks, mitigating, said Richards has a problem with alcohol and re-offended because he again turned to drink.

Judge Granville Styler jailed Richards for two years and made him the subject of an indefinite restraining order, preventing him contacting Miss Haney.

The judge told Richards yesterday: "I take the view you are a danger to women, particularly when you are in drink.

"You have a history of attacking women, your ex partner, present partners and your mother on several occasions, despicable offences. This was a serious attack, a sustained beating in her own home."