DAWN BURFORD

A woman who has four children and left her long-term partner for another woman entered her previous partner’s shop and physically assaulted him while their children were present.

Dawn Burford, aged 28, stormed into the Londis post office on St Martin’s Hill, where she shouted abusive language at Danny Guilliard before repeatedly hitting him.

Prosecutor Julie Farbrace informed Canterbury Magistrates’ Court that Burford, accompanied by two of their children on October 8, was angry about custody and access arrangements.

She was seen banging on the shop’s counter screen and knocking items off the shelves.

The incident escalated when Mr Guilliard left the store to get away from her.

Burford followed outside, yelling at him and running toward him, threatening that he would never see the children again.

She then lunged at him, despite his efforts to shield himself by putting his head in his hands.

She punched him roughly ten times in the head.

While Mr Guilliard used his phone to summon police, Burford persisted in hitting him and struck him again just before officers arrived.

She then walked away.

Burford was detained and subsequently released.

On October 23, two weeks later, she returned to Mr Guilliard’s flat, forcing her way in despite his requests for her to leave.

She threw a remote control at the TV, smashing it, but left upon hearing him call the police.

When she tried to re-enter, Mr Guilliard refused her access, leading her to kick at the door multiple times.

Burford was arrested again and acknowledged feeling upset about limited access to her children.

Before these events, she stated that her split from Mr Guilliard was due to her starting a new relationship.

She pleaded guilty to criminal damage and assault and admitted missing a previous court hearing.

The court was told that Burford had prior convictions for battery and a public order offence.

She claimed that her partner had damaged her belongings, including her television, clothes, and sofa, but the police case was dropped after the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to proceed.

As part of her sentence, magistrates sentenced her to an 18-month community order and issued an 18-month restraining order.

She was also ordered to pay £150 in court costs and a £60 surcharge.

After the hearing, Mr Guilliard told the Gazette he denied her allegations in court and confirmed that their children are now living with him.