Thug bit the mother of his child as she begged him to stop
The judge said the biting attack was "a particularly unpleasant thing for anybody to do, never mind an adult man"
A man with a history of domestic violence grabbed his ex-girlfriend and bit her multiple times after she rejected his drunken advances. Jonathon Derby, 37, "badly beat up" his former partner, leaving her with nasty bruises.
The incident occurred at his former partner's flat on May 25 this year, one month after the couple split up. The woman, Rebecca Walls, agreed to meet with Derby after he asked to visit her to talk. But when she refused to kiss Derby – who had been drinking – he turned violent and grabbed her by the head and shook her. He also bit her on her left arm and back.
Ms Walls fell to the floor, where she "pleaded with the defendant to stop" as Derby sat on top of her. He then left the property "to purchase more alcohol", and Ms Walls went to her neighbour's house, where she reported the incident to police two days later.
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At Liverpool Crown Court today, November 20, prosecutor Andrew McInnes said: "Ms Walls says she was scared, traumatised and frightened in case the defendant returned. She was, after the event, struggling to eat and go out. She has left the flat as a consequence of the assault. She describes her mental health as being poor in the aftermath and she is still suffering the effects to this day."
The court heard Derby, a dad of four, had 16 previous convictions for 25 offences, including the assault of another ex-partner. He was due to stand trial today, but changed his plea at the last second, admitting to assault causing actual bodily harm.
Brendan Carville, defending, said: "It has to be said that although he has a record, there's a 10 year gap between offending in 2009 and 2019. That is to his credit, as is a five year gap between 2019 and today's matters. He's demonstrated he can keep out of trouble and watch his temper.
"He is the father of four children; one with this lady and three with another lady. He indicates in due course he hopes again to have the joy of seeing these three children when he is released.
"He's been in custody 131 days, almost five months, the equivalent of a 10 month sentence. In custody he has completed a welding course and the advantage of that is he has been told by a friend he will employ him in that capacity, as a welder. He has a poor employment record but he will be able to earn money and pay for his children."
Judge Andrew Menary said: "On May 25 this year you went to Ms Walls' home for the reason, it seems, of speaking to her, and it may well be you were affected by drink. But whatever the reason, an argument developed and in the course of that you had badly beat her up. You were involved in not only assaulting her, but biting her. That's a particularly unpleasant thing for anybody to do, never mind an adult man like you."
He sentenced Derby to 16 months in prison and passed a two year restraining order banning him from contacting Ms Walls.
