ROTHERHAM MAN JAILED FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSAULT
A man who *dragged his girlfriend into her house* and subjected her to a terrifying assault has been jailed.John Bagnall, aged 35, had been in a relationship with the woman for around seven months, and while it initially seemed to be a "good" relationship, it *quickly deteriorated into him calling her constantly, making her feel watched, and telling her what to do.* On Tuesday, Sheffield Crown Court heard that the couple had an argument in April last year, during which the woman claimed she was assaulted.
A further incident occurred on May 16, after which she told Bagnall to stop contacting her.
Despite this, Bagnall continued to message her and went to her house on May 22, claiming he needed to collect belongings, including a DVD player.
The woman handed him her house key, but he *grabbed her shoulder bag, pulled her inside, and then* he *emptied her mobile phone onto the sofa, accused her of lying, and slapped her in the face, knocking her off balance.* He punched her multiple times in the face and *kicked her in the ribs while she was on the floor, then spat at her.* The woman’s sister found her later, but when she returned home, she discovered a window had been smashed.
The woman suffered a bruise to her left eye, cuts, bruises on her chest, and bruising inside her lip and mouth.
Bagnall, originally from Gullingworth Drive in Rotherham, was arrested and initially denied the attack but pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage during his trial.
The sentencing judge, His Honour Judge Peter Hampton, described the attack as "cowardly" and remarked that "this was in a domestic context, which makes it more serious." Bagnall was sentenced to 18 months in prison and placed under a five-year restraining order banning contact with the victim.
He appeared in court via video link from HMP Doncaster, supported by his family.
Bagnall, who has a previous conviction for criminal damage, has never served a custodial sentence before.
His lawyer highlighted that this was not his first relationship and that he has moved on, expressing apologies for his actions.
