MERVYN SWINBURN SENTENCED IN COVENTRY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND REPEATED ABUSE

Mervyn Swinburn, a 25-year-old resident of Coventry, has been handed down an 18-month prison sentence after being convicted of domestic violence charges. The court heard how Swinburn assaulted his girlfriend in a public park in Coventry while their two-year-old daughter was present and witnessing the brutal attack. According to court records, the assault involved Swinburn repeatedly punching his partner and kicking her while she was on the ground, causing her significant physical harm. The victim was able to activate a police tracker device during the assault, which ultimately led to Swinburn's arrest by law enforcement authorities. It was also revealed that at the time of this violent incident, Swinburn was already on bail for a previous assault against the same woman. That earlier incident took place on September 17, 2006, when Swinburn punched her in the head seven times, resulting in visible cuts and bruises. Despite being under bail conditions that explicitly prohibited him from approaching or contacting his girlfriend, Swinburn continued his pattern of abusive behavior.

Further troubling details emerged during the court proceedings. On November 27, Swinburn met his partner at a pub in Coventry and convinced her to allow him to take care of their son. The following day, he found her in a city centre pub without their child, which led to a violent confrontation. During this altercation, Swinburn again assaulted her, punching her multiple times in the head and kicking her while she was on the ground. Swinburn pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and to breaching his bail conditions. The prosecution described him as a serial domestic abuser whose repeated actions have caused significant emotional and physical harm to his victim. The court also noted the distress caused to their young daughter, who witnessed her mother being assaulted.

Judge James Pike sentenced Swinburn to six months for the initial assault, eight months for the subsequent attack, and an additional four months for breaching bail. The judge emphasized the pattern of violent behavior and expressed concern about the risk of further offenses, underscoring the seriousness of Swinburn’s actions and the need for appropriate punishment to protect the victim and the public.