Market Drayton father asks court to send him to jail
A father from Shropshire who punched his former partner while under the influence of drink and drugs asked magistrates to send him to prison so he could "sort himself out".
Scott Burton is "an advert for why you shouldn't drink alcohol and take cocaine when you have mental health issues", his solicitor told Telford Magistrates Court yesterday.
Burton, 21, of Allen Gardens, Market Drayton, admitted assaulting his former partner and possessing an offensive weapon and was sentenced to a total of 20 weeks in prison.
Magistrates also ordered the destruction of a kitchen knife found on him when he was arrested and imposed a restraining order to prevent him contacting his former partner until further notice.
Mrs Katie Price, prosecuting, said Burton was clearly drunk when he turned up at the victim's home demanding to see his children.
The children were upset, so she went to talk to him outside.
He grabbed her hands and started shaking her before walking away.
As he went she noticed a kitchen knife sticking out of his trousers.
As the victim was calling the police she saw him walking back towards her shouting and, said Mrs Price, feared for the safety of herself and her children.
She said: "Out of nowhere he hit her on the side of the head with the heel of his hand.
"She has been left shaken about what he might do next."
Mr Steven Meredith, for Burton, said he wanted to go to prison as he believed that would make him sort himself out.
He said: "He is an advert for why you shouldn't drink alcohol and take cocaine at the same time when you have mental health issues.
"It's led him to do the most stupid thing in his life. He would never have done anything when sober. He knows what he has done is wrong and he knows he has got to be punished."
