2015: MAN JAILED FOR VIOLENT ATTACK ON WIFE
AN estranged husband who threw Cadbury mini eggs at his wife during a violent attack has been jailed for eight weeks, a court has heard.Darren Humphries, 37, of no fixed abode, launched into a tirade of abuse and expletives when the prison term was announced at Worcester Magistrates Court on Monday (April 13).
He was sentenced to eight weeks in prison for assaulting Claire Humphries and using violence to enter her house on Tuesday, March 3, having pleaded guilty to the charges at an earlier court hearing.
But he escaped further punishment for damaging her Volkswagen Golf car on Monday, February 23, after throwing wheelie bins at the vehicle.
All of the offences took place in Windermere Drive, Warndon.
Mark Soper, prosecuting, said: “The couple have been separated since February 2014 after 14 years together – they have two children, a 10-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl.
“It seems Mr Humphries became mentally unwell and his wife decided the relationship should end.
He had become very difficult to live with, using drugs and alcohol to self-medicate.
This led to abusive and violent behaviour towards her and left her in fear of him.
During the first incident he went to the home address.
He was in drink and asked to be allowed to sleep in her car, but she did not allow him.
He threw wheelie bins at the car and was arrested and charged with that offence.
“The next incident he forced the door open and grabbed his wife by the jawbone causing her to fall into the house.
He was shouting at her and eventually released her, causing her further distress because she was in fear of him.
Then he started throwing Cadbury mini eggs at her.
She managed to call the police and the matters were admitted in interview.” Rob Macrory, defending, said: “This behaviour is born totally out of frustration.
He was driven by the emotion of wanting to see his children and he is generally so fed up in life.
There are mental health difficulties but he does not believe he has a problem with alcohol.
I would ask the court to consider that there were not extensive injuries to the victim and he only has a very short record.” Sue Dowty, chairman of the bench, sentenced Humphries to eight weeks in prison for each of the assault and violent entry offences, with the terms to run concurrently.
She said: “There were lots of aggravating factors – the location of the offence, the fact it was domestic violence, the fact you were in drink and that it was carried out in front of your children.” No further punishment was made for the criminal damage offence but Humphries was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £85.
A restraining order was also imposed preventing him from contacting Claire Humphries either directly or indirectly.
