A WOMAN WAS LEFT FEELING LIKE A “PUNCHING BAG” AFTER A GREAT YARMOUTH MAN ASSAULTED HER
A woman recounted feeling akin to a “punching bag” following her assault by a man from Great Yarmouth, as revealed in court proceedings.The attacker, Jack Humphrey-Potter, struck her in the stomach, face, and legs before smashing a mirror in a rage and pressing a broken shard of glass against her throat, court documents indicated.
Humphrey-Potter, residing on Paget Road in Great Yarmouth, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to charges of actual bodily harm and criminal damage, both committed on October 25 of last year.
The court was told that when the woman asked Humphrey-Potter, aged 28, to leave her home, he reportedly responded with uncontrollable anger.
He then began punching her, resulting in substantial bruising and injuries described as “significant harm,” according to Recorder Tom Day.
Following this, Humphrey-Potter smashed a mirror and grabbed one of the sharp glass pieces, which he held to the woman’s throat.
He then pressed his forehead against hers and started “jumping around as if he was in a boxing match.” Police subsequently arrested him, and the woman was left with a black eye, facial swelling, and an earache that made her feel as if she was “listening to a seashell.” In her police statement, she stated, “I do not want to be his punching bag,” and expressed her fear for her safety, saying she spends every day looking over her shoulder to avoid him.
The court was also informed that Humphrey-Potter has “previous convictions of a similar nature.” During mitigation, it was noted that he had experienced a “difficult childhood,” witnessing his mother being physically abused by his father, which contributed to his normalization of violence as a way to resolve disputes, the court heard.
Humphrey-Potter was sentenced by Recorder Day to 22 months in jail, suspended for 18 months, along with 30 days of participating in rehabilitation and mental health treatment programs.
A restraining order was also granted to prevent any contact between him and the victim.
