Man attacked partner for 'damaging Man Utd picture'

10:47am Thursday 21st June 2007

A MAN attacked his partner after she threw his Manchester United picture against a radiator, Burnley Magistrates heard.

Warehouseman Joseph Ashley Hodgkinson, 23, then lunged at Nicola Houston, pulled her hair, punched her thigh, shouted at her and made threats.

Miss Houston suffered lumps to her head, her right hand was swollen and she had a brusied right thigh.

The victim, who was left with headaches afterwards, was crying and extremely upset when the police turned up.

Hodgkinson, of Cronkshaw Street, Burnley, admitted assault by beating on March 13. He was given a 12 month community order, with 100 hours unpaid work and supervision. He must also pay £200 compensation.

Elizabeth Read, prosecuting, told the court Miss Houston, 18, the defendant's then partner, had been seeing him for five months. There had been a few problems and the police had been called on New Year's Eve.

On March 13, they were arguing, pictures and possessions were being thrown around and the victim was assaulted after damaging Hodgkinson's Manchester United picture.

The defendant had a record going back to 1997 and had served a jail term for arson.

David Leach, defending, said Hodgkinson had been claiming elements of provocation, but he accepted it was wrong to resort to violence and he apologised for his behaviour.