A court heard she described it ‘as the most frightening day of my life’
Lee Martin, pictured outside Hull Crown Court(Image: Hull Live)
A terrified woman feared that she was “going to die” when a heavy-drinking bully viciously punched her during an “appalling” attack – and ignored her desperate pleas to stop. She was fighting for her life during the beating and she later said “I would describe this as the most frightening day of my life.”
The violence had a “profound impact” on her and, after one punch, her eye popped and she immediately could not see out of it, Hull Crown Court heard. Lee Martin, 45, of Westminster Avenue, Hull, admitted assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, on January 18, 2024.
Abigail Rowley, prosecuting, said that Martin and the woman were previously in a relationship for about six months. He returned home in drink at 6pm and she was concerned about his state.
He wanted a Chinese meal and left at 6.30pm. He returned at 9.30pm heavily drunk. He was falling on the stairs and swinging on banisters. “She asked him to be quiet,” said Miss Rowley.
The woman heard Martin “clattering in the bathroom” and he later screamed in her face before repeatedly hitting her on her head. She thought that they were punches but could not see exactly how he was hitting her as she was covering her face.
He remained on top of her and she tried to crawl out but he pushed her down as she tried to do so. “She managed to get to the dressing table and got herself up,” said Miss Rowley.
“The defendant dragged her to her feet.” He told her: “Get here.” He again hit her on the head. “She was begging him to stop,” said Miss Rowley.
Martin punched her in the face, hitting her left eye. She felt her eye socket pop and she instantly could not see. “She continued to plead for the defendant to stop,” said Miss Rowley.
“He ignored her and put himself on top of her. She dug her nails into his back to get him off. He finally let her go.” The woman ran into another room and rang 999.
Martin was stumbling around and the woman ran out of the house and took refuge at a neighbour’s home while waiting for the police to arrive. During police interview, Martin made no comment to all questions. He previously had a conviction for drink-driving in 2010.
The woman said in a statement: “I would describe this as the most frightening day of my life.” Martin was punching her so hard in her eye that she could not see. Her relief at leaving the house was overwhelming.
She had never felt so much relief and gratitude when her neighbours opened the door. “I genuinely believed I was going to die that night,” she said.
“I started fighting for my life.” Reasoning with Martin and begging did not work. “Lee has shown aggressive behaviour on and off when drinking and gambling were involved,” she said. “In the days and weeks afterwards, I was too frightened to open my curtains.
“The impact of this incident has continued ever since. This man’s actions have had a profound impact on my life. He could have killed me.”
Ian Phillip, mitigating, said that Martin pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and he had shown remorse. “The defendant accepts fully that what he did on this occasion two years ago was appalling,” said Mr Phillip.
“He doesn’t seek to blame anybody else other than himself. He does not contest what she has said. He can’t and he doesn’t wish to.
“He has not been arrested for any other matters before the court. The defendant is completely abstinent from alcohol and has been for some time.”
Martin lost his job as a social worker and was now a trainee for a rail company. As part of his job, he was regularly tested for alcohol.
Recorder Simon Jackson KC told Martin: “This was an appalling offence. You repeatedly punched this woman. You sat on her. You embarked on a sustained and repeated attack on her.
“She was begging you to stop and you ignored her. You have shown little genuine remorse. You have done those things you need to do to get through the process.
“There is a lasting significant impact on this complainant. This was a sustained attack, which must have seemed endless to this young woman.”
Martin was given a two-year suspended prison sentence, 300 hours’ unpaid work and 30 days’ rehabilitation. He was ordered to pay £8,000 compensation and a £187 victims’ surcharge.
Did you know you can make Hull Live a preferred source of Hull news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away?Here’s more information about what this means and how to do it – you can also do it straight away byclicking here.