A man from the Midlands has walked free from court despite admitting to a brutal assault where he gouged his girlfriend's eye with his thumb during a row over milk.
A Campaign of Abuse and a Shocking Attack
Daniel Carr, aged 41, subjected his partner to a four-month campaign of domestic abuse, culminating in a violent incident at her home. The court heard that the attack on March 10 was triggered when Carr, who had been drinking, repeatedly asked if there was any milk in the house.
When the victim told him there was none, Carr told her to "f****** shut up" and threatened to "give [her] the f****** boot". He then grabbed her while she was on her knees and gouged her eye with his thumb.
In a victim impact statement read to North Staffordshire Justice Centre, the woman described the pain as "an eight out of 10". She said: "My eye was left red and sore. I was scared for my safety. I now struggle sleeping at night."
Defying Court Orders and Stalking
Police were called following the assault, and Carr was arrested. He showed further aggression by throwing water in the face of the arresting officer, leading to a charge of assaulting an emergency worker. He was released on bail with a condition not to contact the victim.
Carr, a father-of-two from Maple Close in Norton Green, ignored this order. Prosecutor Jo Fox told the court he engaged in stalking behaviour, including following the woman in his van while she walked and parking outside her home. He also dropped off unwanted gifts.
Suspended Sentence and 'Worst Punishment'
Despite having seven previous convictions for 13 offences, Carr was handed a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. He was convicted of assault by beating, stalking, and assaulting an emergency worker.
In his defence, lawyer Paul Kay said Carr was a "very invested father" who had remained supportive of his ex-partner even after she had a child with another man. Kay stated that not seeing his children was "the worst punishment any father can face".
Magistrates told Carr he had "targeted a vulnerable person in a vulnerable situation". As part of his sentence, he was made subject to a two-year restraining order, a 27-day rehabilitation activity requirement, and ordered to pay £154 in costs.
