WOMAN'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AT NEWCASTLE HOTEL ENDED IN HORROR DUE TO BULLY BOYFRIEND
A man who subjected his partner to multiple assaults, leading her to fear for her life, has been sentenced to prison.During his court appearance, Thomas Patrick apologized and expressed a desire to become a better man, though the judge noted a contradiction between his remorse and his previous victim-blaming attitude that showed little acknowledgment of his abusive behavior.
The incidents began on February 10 last year, when the couple was celebrating her birthday at the Leonardo Hotel on Scotswood Road, Newcastle.
A violent altercation occurred, during which Patrick pulled her by her hair, dragged her from the bed onto the floor, and pressed his palm to her face, causing bleeding from her nose.
He also destroyed hotel property, including smashing a television.
Following his arrest, Patrick was released on bail with strict conditions not to contact the victim.
Nonetheless, on March 6, they went out drinking together, and an argument arose at her home.
The next morning, as she prepared for work around 7am, Patrick assaulted her again by grabbing her face and hair, twisting her wrists, slapping her, and dragging her across the floor while tearing her pajamas.
On July 3, after returning from a night out, the woman discovered him going through her phone and questioned him about messages she had deleted.
Early the next day, he attacked her physically, hitting her head against the wall and punching her multiple times, resulting in a swollen, bruised eye, mouth bruising, and arm injuries.
He also damaged a television that day.
The violence continued on October 10, when, after she finished her shift at a pub around midnight, Patrick ambushed her.
He grabbed her by the hair, dragged her along Bensham Bank, and assaulted her further at her home, repeatedly throwing her around and pulling her hair when she tried to leave.
In a statement to the court, the victim described feeling frightened and embarrassed, nearing a mental breakdown, and having been physically abused countless times during their relationship.
She expressed shame about her black eye and the impact of his abuse.
The court learned that Patrick had a prior conviction for attacking a previous partner, which resulted in a suspended prison sentence.
In his latest case, he pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault by beating, and criminal damage.
Patrick read a letter to the court, apologizing sincerely and expressing remorse, hoping for forgiveness.
He also described his time in detention as a shocking experience, noting he is now on a drug-free wing and has helped others, even saving a cellmate’s life.
Sentencing him to three years in prison for the recent offenses and for breaching his suspended sentence, Recorder Simon Goldberg highlighted the pattern of domestic violence.
The judge criticized Patrick’s violent behavior, especially when intoxicated, and pointed out the pre-sentence report’s grave concern over his lack of acknowledgment and victim-blaming attitude, suggesting that his parents would also be shocked at his actions.
