An aggressive bully with a “history of violent offences” angrily headbutted a woman after a bad-tempered confrontation led to them “swinging for each other”. Neil Bruce went round to her home in blatant defiance of a bail condition after their “tumultuous” relationship ended.
He repeatedly banged on her door, sparking a “loud” argument when she finally answered, Hull Crown Court heard. Bruce, 37, of Hull Road, Hessle, admitted assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm. He originally denied the offence but pleaded guilty on the day of a scheduled trial.
Harry Bradford, prosecuting, said that Bruce and the woman were previously in a “tumultuous” relationship that ended in February last year. One day after this, he went to her home and banged on the door for five to 10 minutes before she opened it. Her mother was there.
There was a loud argument and the woman swore at him. Punches were thrown by both of them. They were “swinging for each other” and Bruce shouted that he wanted his belongings.
He swung his fist, hitting her chest, and grabbed her by the throat for a couple of seconds. “Luckily, there was no restriction of breathing,” said Mr Bradford.
They separated from each other but Bruce walked towards the woman and headbutted her in the face, causing a black eye and swelling. He told the woman’s mother: “I didn’t do that. She did it to herself.”
Bruce was arrested but he denied the assault and claimed that he could not have done it because he had bail conditions to stay away from her. He had convictions for 25 previous offences, including four involving assaults between 2007 and last year.
He had been given a 50-week suspended prison sentence for grievous bodily harm in February 2007 and he had been jailed for 112 days in 2015 for assaulting a previous partner by headbutting her. He had been given a suspended sentence in 2018 for harassment of a neighbour and he had convictions for assaulting a police officer by an attempted headbutt and causing criminal damage last year.
Oliver Shipley, mitigating, said that the relationship had been under significant pressure at the time and Bruce went to the woman’s home in breach of a bail condition. “He expresses his apologies for his offending,” said Mr Shipley.
“Thankfully, the harm was relatively low, which represents the degree of force used. The defendant knows that provocation is no excuse. There was significant pressure and that has bubbled over on the doorstep.
“The relationship is over. He has no intention of contacting her. The defendant has made great strides to move on with his life in the meantime.”
Bruce was a hard worker, who was an asset in his job, and his employer was standing by him. “He has not entered into a new relationship,” said Mr Shipley.
“He has no intention of doing so. He has arrived at the conclusion that he is better off out of a relationship. Most of his time is spent at work. There has been no further offending. He has stayed out of trouble and he is focussed on his work. There is a change in tide here.”
Judge Richard Woolfall told Bruce: “Matters did get out of hand very quickly. You have a history of violent offences. You keep doing the same thing against different people. I am not satisfied that there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.
“You have demonstrated a history of poor compliance with court orders. I am afraid that, on this occasion, appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody. You have got to understand that you can’t keep on like this.”
Bruce, who had been on bail, was jailed for one year. He was given a five-year restraining order.