Abusive Husband Escapes Prison Sentence After Assaulting Pregnant Wife
An abusive husband has avoided a jail term after being convicted of beating his pregnant wife, who later gave birth to twins, as heard in a recent court proceeding. Jason Withers, aged 36, carried out a series of violent and controlling acts against his spouse in Staffordshire, leaving her with significant physical and emotional trauma.
Details of the Assault and Controlling Behaviour
The court was informed that Withers punched the victim in the stomach while she was expecting, resulting in a black eye and other injuries. Beyond the physical abuse, he exerted control by forcing her to change passwords on her social media and email accounts, effectively isolating her from support networks. Additionally, he took money from her bank account and threatened her to send him funds, dominating her finances and restricting her movements by accompanying her wherever she went.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
At Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Withers pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, three counts of common assault, and controlling and coercive behaviour. Prosecutor Barry White outlined the timeline of abuse, noting that the relationship deteriorated after Withers began using drugs and became violent. Despite knowing she was pregnant, he continued to assault her, exacerbating the harm.
In mitigation, Hunter Gray highlighted that Withers had spent 25 weeks in custody and argued the injuries were not the most severe for such offences. He also mentioned Withers' diagnoses of PTSD from his time in special services and bipolar disorder, noting a positive response to medication. However, Judge Richard McConaghy condemned Withers' actions, stating he treated the victim "very badly indeed" and expressed concern over his minimising attitude towards the abuse.
Ultimately, Withers was sentenced to a community order with 45 rehabilitation activity requirement days and must participate in an accredited programme, avoiding imprisonment despite the gravity of the crimes.
