NOTTINGHAMPOST: MAN JAILED FOR TERRIFYING DOMESTIC ASSAULT WITH TYRE WRENCH
A Nottingham man struck his ex-girlfriend with a tyre wrench before trying to push it into her throat during a terrifying attack, a court heard.Lee Buckley's ex-partner was left suffering nightmares and feeling "like a shadow" of her former self following the assault, which started after she refused to let him drive her car.
Derbyshire Live reports that, in the build-up to the attack, Buckley swung a metal hoover part towards the woman, kicked a table at her shins and threw a beer can at her.
He then reached for the metal wrench, Derby Crown Court was told.
Following the assault, 35-year-old Buckley refused to call an ambulance for her, before taking her phone and forcing her to flee into the garden - screaming for help.
The court heard how the Bulwell man then came out into the garden and told the victim that her phone was inside the house.
As she went back inside, he drove off in her car at speed after taking a spare set of keys from her handbag.
The incident left the victim with an injury to her head, where "hair is unlikely to regrow," and caused her to feel too scared to be at home alone, resulting in her losing confidence and her personality.
Recorder Mark Watson, who presided over the case, condemned Buckley's actions and said the case was so serious that the only proper punishment was immediate custody.
He stated: "This was, as you accept, a disgraceful incident of domestic violence.
You were in a bad mood and you were spoiling for an argument.
Your partner was well within her rights to stop you climbing in her car and instead of respecting that and respecting her, you were aggressive." The court detailed that Buckley, of Grinden Crescent, Bulwell, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, taking a vehicle without consent, and driving without a license or insurance.
He was jailed for 22 months, and a restraining order was imposed.
The victim showed a statement indicating the incident impacted her both physically and mentally.
She now feels unable to leave the house without a family member, is too scared to be alone at home, suffers from stress and nightmares, and has lost her confidence.
Buckley entered guilty pleas at the first opportunity and has 21 previous convictions for 38 offences.
