Jail for man who elbowed Fareham partner in the face

Paul Davis, 38, admitted ‘recklessly’ elbowing the woman in the face in a row at her home in Fareham.

Now a judge has jailed him for 14 months after the woman vowed to break up with him while giving evidence at his sentencing hearing.

Victim Ruth Collier said: ‘It’s hard to take it from someone you truly love.

‘This is the cruellest thing I’ve ever had to do.

‘I know he will end up killing me if I don’t leave him, if I don’t end the relationship in the court case today.’

She added: ‘I’ve had enough of how he treats me.

‘I want this matter to be taken seriously for him to know the consequences of his actions.

‘He has assaulted me on a number of occasions, this is the first time I’ve given evidence against him.

‘As a result of Paul assaulting me on May 28, 2016, I have some pain on the left side of my face.’

She added: ‘I was unable to sleep on the right side of my face due to the pain.’

Portsmouth Crown Court heard an incident happened on December 28 last year.

Davis (pictured), of Nelson Avenue, Portchester, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of breaching a non-molestation order and breaching a suspended sentence for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Sentencing, judge Robert Pawson said: ‘The sentence for actual bodily harm would be in the region of 15 months.

‘You pleaded guilty, you expressed some remorse. I understand there’s a difficult domestic background. I’ve heard what Miss Collier has said and it was quite clear that she has certainly loved you. Significantly, the pain you caused her was not just physical, it was also psychological pain.

‘It caused yellow and purple bruising to her face, which even allowing for it to be reckless, is disgraceful to a woman.’

The court heard that, since Davis was remanded, Ms Collier had visited him in prison, and she said in court her statement was how she felt about him in January when she wrote it.

Mitigating, Howard Barrington-Clark said: ‘He has had a copy of Ms Collier’s victim personal statement.

‘He has apologised to her and Ms Collier has accepted that.’

He added Davis has drink and drug problems, but was coming off drugs.