He was trying to prepare a meal when the nasty incident unfolded
Robert Farrington appeared at Hull Crown Court(Image: Hull Live)
A drink-fuelled argument about food turned nasty when a bad-tempered man suddenly attacked his girlfriend “in retaliation” for her interfering while he was trying to prepare a meal in the kitchen. The woman thought that she was helping him after he started “shouting and swearing as he made his food”.
But the food and some glasses ended up on the floor, sparking a violent and prolonged attack on the woman, Hull Crown Court heard. Robert Farrington, 57, of Baden Close, off Beverley Road, Hull, admitted assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, on April 25 last year. He also admitted intentional strangulation and causing criminal damage to her mobile phone.
Molly Minter, prosecuting, said that Farrington had previously been in a relationship with the woman for about 13 years. “She went into the kitchen where the defendant was shouting and swearing as he made his food,” said Miss Minter. “She offered to assist.”
Farrington grabbed her neck and pushed her face into the back of a sofa. He put pressure on her neck and was strangling her. He hit her on her head, causing it to bleed.
He continued to assault her while she managed to telephone the police. She suffered injuries. During police interview, Farrington said that there was an argument about food.
He claimed that she tipped his food on the floor and dropped glasses on the floor. He admitted that he smashed her phone because he did not want her to call for help.
He admitted grabbing the woman from behind but denied restricting her breathing. When asked if he felt any remorse, Farrington replied: “I do and I don’t.”
The woman later said: “This incident has caused a great deal of anxiety to myself.” It was a prolonged and persistent assault, said Miss Minter. Farrington took steps to prevent the woman from reporting the assault. He had convictions for six previous offences, including assault in October 2020 and, most recently, failing to comply with notification requirements in June last year.
Hannah Turner, mitigating, said that it was a “toxic relationship” and both Farrington and the woman were “under the influence” at the time. “She assisted the defendant in making some food,” said Miss Turner.
“Both had been drinking alcohol – two litres of cider. She tried to assist him. In doing so, she threw the food that he had been preparing on the floor, smashing two glasses.
“She states that he hit her over the head. She reports that this was an incident that occurred while she was under the influence of alcohol.”
Farringdon claimed that what he did was “in retaliation” for what she did while he was preparing the food. “It’s clear that both parties were under the influence,” said Miss Turner. “There is no shying away from the fact that this was an offence committed under the influence of alcohol.”
Farrington was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence, 25 days’ rehabilitation and a five-year restraining order.
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