Dewsbury man pleads guilty after assaulting ex-girlfriend at child's birthday party

DEWSBURY MAN PLEADS GUILTY AFTER ASSAULTING EX-GIRLFRIEND AT CHILD'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

A man assaulted his former girlfriend at his goddaughter’s birthday party.

David Matthews, of Windsor Close, Shaw Cross, Dewsbury, pleaded guilty to the attack on June 30.

Kirklees magistrates heard that at the time Matthews was at the home of Carly Mortimer, who he had split up with in January.

The pair were still friends and the 25-year-old was godfather to Miss Mortimer’s daughter.

On the day of the assault there was a party at her house to celebrate the one-year-old’s birthday.

Matthews stayed after the party and some alcohol was drunk.

Andy Wills, prosecuting, said that Matthews suddenly barged in from the kitchen and started shouting and screaming at Miss Mortimer.

He said: “He was saying derogatory terms at her, she views the defendant as being jealous of the father of her child.

“She said: ‘He walked up to me and slapped me across the face with the back of his hand.

“Then he came up behind me and punched me to the back of my head, I was crying and begging him to stop.” Matthews ran away from the address and was later arrested.

Peter Hampson, mitigating, said that his client was drunk at the time.

He said: “When he drinks he does become aggressive and finds it difficult to control his emotions.” Magistrates ordered a full report before sentencing him on August 14.

Matthews was banned from contacting Miss Mortimer or going to her home in Navigation Gardens, Thornhill Lees.