'Woman beater' gets first 'domestic violence' ASBO (From Lancashire Telegraph)

'Woman beater' gets first 'domestic violence' ASBO

7:00pm Friday 6th October 2006 in News By Charlotte Bradshaw

A THUG who has beaten up his girlfriends for years has become the first person in the country to receive an ASBO for domestic violence.

Police said David Grimes, 27, of Whitegate Gardens, Padiham, had subjected his partners to years of mental and physical abuse.

Grimes has been arrested 66 times over the last five years for a catalogue of offences including violence against women, officers revealed.

And after he was convicted of an attack on his latest partner, police decided to act with the groundbreaking ASBO in a bid to prevent further incidents.

Domestic violence workers have welcomed the news as "fantastic" and said it would encourage other victims to come forward.

Rachel Horman, a solicitor who advises the management panel at Women's Aid, said: "I think this is a very good thing.

"It takes the blame away from the victim.

"They usually have to take out an injunction but this way it is the state that have put this upon the offender.

"So if it is breached the offender cannot blame the victim.

"This will definitely encourage more victims to come forward if they think they have more support.

" It sends out a very strong message that society will not accept this type of behaviour and will act as a benchmark for future incidents.

"This will not be kept behind closed doors anymore."

The court heard of Grimes' latest domestic violence crime this week.

Burnley magistrates were told he tried to knife Kate Lambert in the stomach after lunging at her on her doorstep with the large kitchen knife, missing her by a couple of inches.

Grimes admitted assault and possessing an offensive weapon.

He was given a nine-month jail term, suspended for two years, a three year curfew from 7pm-7am, two years' supervision and the addressing substance related offending programme.

Grimes was also hit with the ASBO, which will last two years, and bans Grimes from Whitegate Close, Padiham, where Ms Lambert lives, and from entering any premises on the close.

He is also not allowed to be drunk in a public place and must not associate with Sandra and Robert Hayhurst.

Inspector Damian Darcy said Grimes had beaten up his girlfriends for years and the latest incident with Ms Lambert's prompted police to turn to the ASBO.

He added: "It's the first in the country in relation to domestic violence.

"It sends out a clear message that the police are committed to tackling domestic violence.

"An ABSO is going to be a real tool to prevent any future distress be it mental or physical.

"If he breaches this he faces a five-year prison sentence and this should act as a message to other people that domestic violence will not be tolerated and police are working hard to wipe it out."