MAN, 32, GUILTY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
A MAN who used his partner for target practise and subjected her to systematic beatings during which she sustained ten rib fractures has been convicted of a catalogue of violence.Gary McNaghten, 32, started physically abusing his partner Joanne McNaghten after moving into her home at Ringwood Road, Poole, Exeter Crown Court heard.
She had met him at a hostel where she was a manager and gave up her job to be with him.
But instead of happiness she was terrorised by McNaghten who regularly punched and kicked her.
He also used weapons including a pickaxe handle, a bottle and knives on her.
On one occasion he fired a ball-bearing gun at her as she cowered naked on the floor.
The jury heard that in addition to the broken ribs she sustained severe bodily bruising, black eyes, facial cuts and stab wounds to her hand and leg.
After the first series of beatings which went on over a period of five months she left McNaghten who then moved to Devon.
He later told her he had turned over a new leaf.
She believed him and went to live with him.
But McNaghten started terrorising her again and became even more brutal.
McNaghten, of Salisbury Road, Exmouth denied four charges of assault, three of unlawful wounding, two of causing grievous bodily harm, one of making a threat to kill and one of false imprisonment.
He was convicted on all charges except one of the unlawful wounding counts.
He will be sentenced at a later date.
