Partner pushed pregnant girlfriend during row over his drug habit

Thomas Brownridge was already on a suspended sentence when he attacked his partner during the row at Orchard Head Crescent in Pontefract.

Appearing at Leeds Crown Court, he admitted a charge of common assault.

Prosecuting, Temitayo Dasaolu said that Brownridge's partner called the police shortly after midnight on November 7 last year.

His partner, who was seven weeks pregnant at the time, told them that 26-year-old Brownridge has pushed her in the stomach against the wall. She was not injured.

She told them they had started arguing when she questioned him over his cocaine and cannabis use.

He told police during interview that he could not remember the assault because he had been drinking and taking cocaine at the time, but accepted her account of events.

The court was told that Brownridge, of Glencoe Gardens, Kippax, was given an eight-month sentence, suspended for two years, for car theft, only last year.

A probation report into his latest charge suggested that he had taken full responsibility for his actions and had shown genuine remorse.

He was now clean of cocaine, and he had cut his cannabis intake and alcohol consumption down.

Mitigating Nicholas Hammond said: "He is making good progress in life. He is working for a waste company clearing drains, has worked throughout the pandemic and is earning a good salary.

"It would appear he is putting his life back on track."

Judge Neil Clark considered whether to trigger the existing suspended sentence, but said he accepted that Brownridge was working hard to support his partner and had made progress with a "change of attitude".

He gave him a three-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, and 150 hours of unpaid work.