JAMES PETFORD

2017: DRUNKEN MAN JAILED AFTER HITTING GIRLFRIEND WITH TABLE IN CATSHILL

James Petford, 36, of Sant Road, Birmingham, has been jailed after hitting his former girlfriend Emma Partridge with a table in her Bromsgrove home, which caused a ‘nasty gash’ to her head.

The incident occurred on Saturday, December 17 last year, when Miss Partridge returned from shopping in Birmingham with Petford's 15-year-old daughter and found herself locked out of her home in Milton Road, Catshill.

She called the council, leading to a locksmith being called to drill out the lock.

While drilling, Petford, who was very drunk and holding a can of beer, opened the door.

He had left a key in the lock, preventing Miss Partridge from entering.

Petford was very drunk and not making sense when she asked him to leave; he then jumped up and struck her in the jaw, describing it as the hardest punch she had ever received.

She fell and hit something, and Petford subsequently picked up a table and hit her in the back.

The cut she sustained needed five staples at the hospital.

After the attack, he told her ‘you know I love you,’ but she responded ‘that isn’t what you do to someone you love.’ She called police, and Petford fled through a window.

He was arrested and told police he hoped to marry Miss Partridge and that they were still in a relationship.

Petford also has a prior conviction for assault occasioning actual bodily harm against the complainant’s mother, Margaret, after stamping on her to take a bottle of vodka.

He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, breach of a six-month suspended sentence order, and a community order.

He was sentenced to 18 months in prison—12 for the assault and 6 months concurrent as the suspended sentence was activated.

A five-year restraining order was also imposed, preventing him from contact with Miss Partridge.

He was told a victim surcharge must be paid, but no compensation was awarded as no application had been made.