Burnley dad jailed for two assaults on his ‘ex’ (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Burnley dad jailed for two assaults on his ‘ex’

12:00pm Friday 27th July 2012 in Burnley By Wendy Barlow, Court reporter

A DAD-OF-TWO who assaulted his former partner twice, once while she was said to have been cradling a child, has been jailed.

Burnley magistrates heard how Joseph Connor, 48, had been drinking when he grabbed victim Sarah Burrows by the neck and pushed her against a wall.

She barricaded herself into a room as she called police, and could hear the defendant shouting and swearing.

Connor had been banned from contacting Ms Burrows, but stormed into her house, abused her, and slapped her across the head.

Her head clashed with a child she was holding.

Connor, who had smashed a microwave oven during the first incident, also flouted a community order.

The defendant, who has 50 offences on his record, admitted damage, and assault by beating, on June 10, failing to comply with a community order, and assault by beating on June 16.

Connor, of Lower Tentre, Burnley, was jailed for 23 weeks.

District Judge Peter Ward told him: “I am afraid you have reached the point where there is no mileage in a community order.

“You have shown you are just not capable of complying with an order.”

Laura Heywood, def-ending Connor, told the court he would say the victim asked him to go round.

The child had been on the settee.

The solicitor continued: “He has, since the break-up, tried to reduce his alcohol intake.

“He wants to work with the probation service and address the issues he has,” added Ms Heywood.