ACCRINGTON MAN JAILED FOR HEAD-BUTTING PARTNER AND DANGEROUS DRIVING DESPITE AUTISM
A VIOLENT thug who beat up three women has been told by a judge that autism is not an excuse for his offences.Jan Justin Cawdron, 38, head-butted the latest victim so badly she couldn’t tell a nurse what had happened, and her doctor signed her off work for a month, Adam Walker, prosecuting, told York Crown Court.
Cawdron had stopped her using a land line to get help, smashed her mobile phone and pushed her over the back of a sofa before the head-butt.
He was angry over some spilt Prosecco and attacked her despite her efforts to calm the situation.
After she fled the house with a dog in her arms, he led police on a chase along the A64 in her car, during which he swerved between lanes and cut aggressively across another car at the Copmanthorpe exit before being arrested on Manor Heath.
The court heard that he was found to be twice the drink drive limit and had two previous convictions for assaulting partners.
For him, Victoria Smith-Swain said his behaviour was linked to his autism, aggravated by drinking, and he wanted help.
Recorder Gurdial Singh told him: “You have a habit of letting your fists do the talking when angry.
"Autism is not a defence, it is not an excuse.
"It is simply not good enough to say ‘It is my autism, I seek help’.
He jailed Cawdron for two years, banned him from driving for three years, ordered him to take an extended driving test before driving alone again and made a restraining order banning him from contacting his latest victim for five years.
Cawdron, now of Blackburn Road, Accrington, pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm, dangerous driving and drink driving.
Ms Smith-Swain said he had formed a new partnership with a woman suffering from cancer, who was in court supporting him.
She would suffer if he went to prison because he had been caring for her children while she underwent chemotherapy.
