Man put ex in hospital with headbutt (From Worcester News)

Man put ex in hospital with headbutt

7:50am Thursday 16th February 2012 in News By James Connell

A DRUNK man who headbutted and punched his ex-girlfriend so she needed hospital treatment is deeply troubled by the murder of his grandmother, a court was told.

Daniel Thomas, aged 23, of Lowesmoor, Worcester, admitted assaulting Laura Minett by beating her twice on the same day when he appeared before city magistrates.

Miss Minett had to go to A&E in Worcester after the attack but his solicitor Paul Stanley said the murder of his grandmother when was just a teenager had had a profound impact on his life.

Matt Dodson, prosecuting, said Miss Minett had met Thomas at his home address on February 3.

The court was told how Thomas, who was with friends, had been drinking after he left work at 2.30pm and demanded to see messages on Miss Minett’s phone.

He said: “On checking it, he found messages he was unhappy with. He then said he was going to nut her and struck with an open hand across the face.”

However, he pursued her and asked her to stay at the flat and they later “playfully bumped heads”.

Mr Dodson said: “He responded by headbutting her at this point, causing a reddening mark to around half an inch in size to the middle of her forehead. It swelled and, as a result of this, she tried to leave.”

He then punched her twice to the left and right of her face, holding her by the throat and pushing her against the wall, Mr Dodson said.

In police interview Thomas described himself as being “a very jealous boyfriend” but claimed it was Miss Minett who had slapped him first.

Mr Dodson said: “He couldn’t remember punching, head-butting or strangling the injured party but he accepts that the witnesses, his friends, would not lie about such a thing.”

Paul Stanley, defending, said: “It’s right to say that when he was interviewed he became very upset.

"He cannot remember a great deal of what happened because of his intoxicated state.

"The man is not well known to the courts. He lost his nan when he was 15. She was murdered in the Redditch area and that had a great effect on his life.”

The case was adjourned for an all-options pre-sentence report and is due to resume on February 20.