Dewsbury man James Dransfield slapped crying child

DEWSBURY MAN JAMES DRANSFIELD SLAPPED CRYING CHILD

A man slapped a child who cried when he shouted at her mother, a court heard.

James Dransfield, 25, struck the frightened five-year-old across her cheek during the row.

He was remanded in custody to await sentencing when he appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Robert Campbell, prosecuting, said that the incident happened at a property in Dewsbury on December 15.

Dransfield was at the house when an argument began with the girl’s mother as he accused her of sleeping with one of his friends.

He threatened to assault the woman if she refused to leave the house.

Mr Campbell said: "The child began to cry and he turned and slapped her across the face with an open palm, causing reddening.

"The defendant was still angry and made further threats to her (the mother) and expressed hopes that she’d die." Magistrates heard that the mother left the house with her child and called police.

While Dransfield, of Windsor View in Dewsbury, was on bail for the first offence he returned to the family’s property.

He threatened to put the windows through unless he was let in and proceeded to smash the kitchen window.

Dransfield pleaded guilty to charges of assault and criminal damage at an earlier hearing.

He was told that his sentencing will take place on January 30 and magistrates remanded him until that date.