MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR ASSAULTING GIRLFRIEND DURING ARGUMENT OVER DRIVING
Tariq Francis, aged 27 and residing in Trowbridge, was convicted of a violent assault on his then-girlfriend outside his mother’s home in May of last year.The incident involved Francis chasing her, biting her on the upper left arm causing significant bruising, strangling her by placing both hands around her throat, headbutting her, and forcibly kissing her during a heated argument following a dispute over her driving.
The victim, in a brave court statement, expressed her ongoing fear, saying: “I worry that one day he will seriously hurt me.” The court heard that after the assault, Francis begged to be allowed into her flat, apologizing repeatedly, saying: “I can’t believe I’ve done this again.” The aftermath of the attack has profoundly affected her mental health; she has left her previous job of eight years, is undergoing therapy and medication, and now feels unsafe even leaving her house due to her fear of Francis returning.
The judge sentenced Francis to 62 weeks in prison for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, considering his guilty plea and time already spent in custody.
Additionally, he was ordered to pay £500 in compensation to his victim within two years of his release and was issued a restraining order banning him from approaching her in any way.
Francis’s previous criminal record includes two offences from 2017—assaulting a police officer and threatening behaviour—which did not result in a prison sentence.
His solicitor acknowledged that his relationship had been “toxic,” and that Francis had utilized his six months on remand to complete courses in construction, anger management, and relationships.
