2008: BULLY JAILED FOR STREET ATTACKS ON EX GIRLFRIEND
A man who caused distress to his former girlfriend through repeated assaults on Redditch streets has been sentenced to four years in prison.Neil Davies attacked Sara Hay after she had left him, taking her children with her in the dark following the end of their relationship.
He was known to have a history of domestic violence and previously used a hammer during a serious altercation over another woman, Worcester Crown Court was told.
Last month, a jury convicted 47-year-old Davies, of Auxerre House, Auxerre Avenue, Redditch, on three counts of assault causing actual bodily harm along with witness intimidation.
Judge Andrew Geddes stated: “This was a prolonged campaign of violence intended to torment Miss Hay.
“She was in constant fear whenever she went outside.
It was obvious she was distressed and struggled to give evidence.” The court heard that Davies acted while emotionally upset about Miss Hay’s decision to leave him.
She testified that Davies became violent after drinking or using drugs, hitting her at their former home in Woodrow.
Following their breakup last year, he assaulted her by pushing her against a wall in Church Hill and kicking her.
Other acts of violence included headbutting her and hitting her legs and stomach with a baseball bat.
Prosecutor Paul Whitfield described a witness statement that indicated Miss Hay was frightened to walk to the shops fearing Davies might be there.
Davies had denied her accusations, asserting her injuries were self-inflicted and that she had lied.
He had a criminal history of 29 previous offenses, including six assaults.
In 2002, he was imprisoned after damaging a car window and hitting a driver above the eye with a hammer in a dispute over a woman.
Two years later, he physically assaulted another woman he was living with.
Defense lawyer Mohammed Riaz explained that Davies, a plasterer with several children from different relationships, was planning to marry his pregnant girlfriend.
He intended to leave Redditch upon release and promised to stay away from Miss Hay.
The judge ordered the Crown Prosecution Service to investigate whether two witnesses in his defense committed perjury.
