Oldbury man beat ex-partner and daughter then drove his car into their home

Randall Collins, of Kelnor Gardens, had no explanation as to why he went to his ex-partner’s home, also in Oldbury, on June 21 this year, Wolverhampton Magistrates heard.

But he kicked down the door, before assaulting his ex-partner and 21-year-old daughter, and then drove his car into the property.

Collins, 56, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by beating, two counts of criminal damage under £5,000 and one count of criminal damage over £5,000. He also pleaded guilty to driving without a licence and insurance.

Pat Kelly, prosecuting, said: "On that date, the defendant arrived at the home address of his ex-partner, exiting the vehicle and approaching the house. His daughter saw him throw something at the door and kick the door.

"Once in the property he attacked his ex and daughter. He punched his ex in the face and blows to both of them a number of times. He then deliberately drove his vehicle into her car a number of times – writing the vehicle off. He then reversed his vehicle into the property itself.

"He was arrested and in interview stated he wanted to talk to his ex-partner as he had found out she had a new partner. He accepted damaging the door – stated he kicked it open because he wanted to speak to her.

"He did not know what he was doing, he didn't know how many times he drove into her car. He accepts causing criminal damage to her car, he accepts driving into the house twice in a fit of rage.

"In a statement from his daughter, she said he punched her in the head. She said she didn't believe he could hit her as she was his little girl.

"His ex-partner said she had suffered years of aggression from him and had split with him eight years ago as she could not put up with his behaviour. She had said she would have rather been on her own than in another unhappy relationship.

Remorse

"After seeing a new person a couple of times, the defendant asked her if she was seeing someone. She said he must have been following her if he knew she was seeing someone."

David Bright, defending, said: "He has expressed deep remorse and he is genuine about that. He just lost the plot. What drove him on that day to do what he did, he can't explain it."

Recorder Benjamin Nicholls, sitting at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on Friday, sentenced him to 16 months for the criminal damage over £5,000, four months for each assault by beating, and two months for each criminal damage under £5,000. He ordered the sentences to run concurrently, and suspended them for 18 months.

Collins was ordered to carry out 25 days of rehabilitation activity, 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £775 compensation to his ex. He was also made subject to a restraining order for his ex and daughter for 10 years.

Recorder Nicholls said: "This is an incident of domestic violence. For reasons even you don't seem to be able to explain, you went to her house, banged on the door, kicked it, picked up a plant pot and threw it at the door.

"Your ex-partner and daughter must have already been terrified by you kicking on the door, but once inside the house you did much worse. Not content with that, you smashed into her car writing it off, then you used your car as a weapon in what I regard as further acts of violence to damage her property by driving into it.

"Not surprisingly, this incident has left your daughter and ex-partner scared and anxious. In my judgement the criminal damage to the house is a form of domestic violence."