MAN JAILED FOR EX-GIRLFRIEND ASSAULT
A man who formerly served in the military and inflicted a sustained and aggressive attack on a woman in Oswestry, followed by persistent stalking, received an 18-month prison sentence at Shrewsbury Crown Court.Kirk Hall, aged 32 of Llwyn Road, was convicted on Thursday, August 1, for assaulting Clare Sankey, a woman he had been in a relationship with for only one month.
Hall pled guilty to causing actual bodily harm (ABH) on March 30 of this year, but initially withdrew a plea related to aggravated vehicle taking, only to re-enter it on July 29.
His plea for driving without insurance remained alongside the reduced assault and stalking counts.
During the court hearing, Recorder Brand recounted that Ms Sankey had stepped outside a local nightclub, Ro-Loz, in Oswestry for a cigarette, where she was approached by Hall.
He took her phone and her car keys from her parked vehicle at Bailey Head.
As the two returned to the car, Hall assaulted her by grabbing her head, headbutting her, biting her cheek, and then locking her inside the vehicle.
He then drove away with her passenger seat, despite her repeated efforts to escape, pulling her back and verbally abusing her.
The victim was eventually able to exit the vehicle, but Hall sped off in her car.
Police were called, and she was taken to hospital.
Hall was arrested, released with warnings not to approach her, but on April 14, he found her at her home intoxicated and assaulted her again.
Police were called once more, and he appeared at her house early in the morning a week later.
Ms Sankey stated in her victim impact statement that she had been traumatised, suffering from nightmares, living in fear, and vigilantly checking her home for his return, simply wanting to live peacefully.
Defence attorney Rosemary Proctor noted Hall’s military background, stating he served in combat from ages 18 to 22, and that he struggled with civilian life, missing the structure the army provided.
She described his approach to the relationship as an unhealthy coping strategy.
The court sentenced Hall to 18 months total, reducing the sentence for ABH to 12 months, with six months added for the aggravated vehicle taking and two months for assault by beating, both consecutive.
One month for stalking, previously affected by a lower court order, was to run concurrently.
No separate sentence was issued for driving without insurance.
He was also granted a restraining order 'until further notice' and disqualified from driving for 17 months.
