Man who battered partner with a baseball bat and fencepost given community order

David Wilkes, 40, kicked and punched his partner, threw bleach on her and hit her with a fencepost after the pair went on a Monkey Dust bender, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.

The pair had been together six years, and had a child together who died.

The court heard that on July 18 last year, the couple were with friends and they had been taking Monkey Dust, a former "legal high" now classified as a Class B drug which causes hallucinations and paranoia.

Mr Glyn Samuel, prosecuting, said: “The victim stayed at her partner’s house throughout July 19, and when she awoke on the morning of July 20, he began accusing her of having slept with three different men. He then screamed at her right in her face.”

Tied up, kicked and punched

The court heard how he tied her up, punched her in the face and kicked her in the stomach while she was on the ground.

Mr Samuel added: “He went and fetched what she described as her nice clothes, cut them up in front of her, and got a kitchen knife and smashed her make-up containers.”

Then, as she made her way to the front door, Wilkes picked up a baseball bat and hit her in the body and head.

At around midday he allowed her to retreat to the rear garden, but shortly afterwards he followed her out and hit her twice with a thick, wooden fencepost.

She then went back into the house, where he pushed her to the ground, got on top of her and kneeled on her chest, causing her to struggle to breath.

Mr Samuel added: “She freed herself, but he added further humiliation by throwing bleach over her, covering her from head to foot. He allowed her to have shower to get some of it off.”

Later that day, the police knocked at the door, and Wilkes ordered her to tell them everything was fine or the consequences would get worse.

'Empty and alone'

Wilkes’ daughters came to the rescue the next day, and he was arrested.

The victim, who has moved away, said in a statement: “If he ever finds me, I believe he will kill me. I feel empty and alone.”

Wilkes, of Trinity Road, Dawley, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal and malicious damage, common assault and battery.

His defence agent Rob Edwards said in mitigation that the loss of a child and his mother may have played a part in his behaviour. He said: “He accepts that he never grieved properly.”

Judge Peter Barrie told Wilkes: “You are a controlling bully and completely unable to control yourself. She suffered injuries all over her body.

“I regard it as abominable behaviour towards someone you are in a relationship with.”

Judge Barrie sentenced him to a 24-month community order and 200 hours of unpaid work, and ordered him to complete a building better relationships course.