2006: KIDDERMINSTER MAN JAILED FOR ASSAULT AND VIOLENCE AGAINST GIRLFRIEND
A man from Kidderminster, identified by a judge as a danger to the public due to his violent past, has received a four-year prison sentence at Worcester Crown Court.Clifford Hodgkins was convicted of assaulting his girlfriend by choking her during a dispute and also of attacking her mother, resulting in four broken teeth.
Prosecutor Simon Drew outlined Hodgkins’ criminal history, which includes various assaults, knife charges, and racially motivated harassment.
Judge David McEvoy QC remarked that Hodgkins, aged 24 and residing on Victoria Place in Kidderminster, had seven previous offenses that deemed him a substantial threat to public safety under recent legislation.
The judge also ordered Hodgkins to serve three years on licence following his release.
Hodgkins pleaded guilty to possessing a knife and committing two assaults, while a jury found him guilty of three additional assaults.
On January 6 last year, police observed him hiding a knife beneath a car near a local pub, leading to his arrest, Drew explained.
Six months later, Hodgkins assaulted Donna Key, breaking her teeth, claiming it was an act of self-defense.
Despite being granted bail on two occasions, Hodgkins later assaulted his girlfriend Michelle Connelly, striking her on the head with a stick and dragging her upstairs.
His most recent conviction, in January of this year, involved another attack on Miss Connelly, during which he hit her with a phone, then strangled her, squeezed her nose, and punched her, leaving her with a black eye.
He then took her to her mother’s house to help her clean up, but she managed to escape and contact police.
Defence lawyer Michael Aspinall stated that Hodgkins and Miss Connelly still loved each other, noting that she had visited him in prison while he was on remand.
Aspinall added that Hodgkins had acted impulsively but was becoming more aware of his temper issues and was committed to changing his behavior to build a future with Miss Connelly.
