Wellingborough businessman headbutted his girlfriend and broke her nose
A man from Wellingborough who headbutted his girlfriend following a row has been in court.
Brogan Freeman admitted assaulting the young woman, but claimed that it was because she wouldn’t let go of his leg.
He was at Northampton Crown Court to be sentenced for a single count of actual bodily harm.
Prosecuting, Damian Warburton told the court that Freeman had been in a long relationship with the woman.
They had been on a weekend away in July last year when they began arguing.
Mr Warburton said: “The row became physical.
"The victim stated he headbutted her to the face causing a broken nose.
"He says it was because she grabbed his leg and wouldn’t let go.”
Freeman said that he realised he had hurt her and was remorseful. He said the injury was not intentional.
Mr Warburton added: “She says there had been multiple previous incidents in which he had used violence.”
Freeman, of Corrie Close, Wellingborough, had pleaded guilty to ABH at a previous court hearing and was before Northampton Crown Court for sentence.
In a victim impact statement, the young woman said she had treatment for her nose at Kettering General Hospital and that she had been ‘shocked and upset’ by what had happened.
But she said that she didn’t want the 27-year-old to go to prison because their child benefited from him being in his life and he was ‘her highest priority’.
In mitigation, advocate Dan Green said that his client had ‘acted out of character’.
He said Freeman had ‘several businesses’ and employed other people.
Sentencing, His Honour Judge Rupert Mayo said that it was a ‘borderline’ case and clearly crossed the custody threshold.
He said he would spare him jail, adding: “You have shown immediate remorse and your behaviour since it happened has shown regret for what you did.”
He gave him Freeman a 12 month community order and told him he must complete 20 rehabilitation activity days. He was also ordered to pay his victim £750 in compensation and to pay £120 in court costs.