'A thoroughly nasty assault': Leeds dad repeatedly kicked his partner on bedroom floor as she held onto their baby

A dad repeatedly kicked his partner as she lay on the bedroom floor of her home clutching their 14-month-old child.
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Jermaine Sofekun carried out the attack on the woman at her home in Leeds after they argued and she told him the relationship was over.

Leeds Crown Court heard Sofekun turned violent after arguing with the victim in the early hours of January 3 this year.

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Sofekun and the woman had been in a relationship for three years.

Leeds Crown CourtLeeds Crown Court
Leeds Crown Court

They have a 14-month-old child together and she has a seven-year-old child.

Emma Handley, prosecuting, said the defendant told the woman that the relationship was over and she went to bed around 11.30pm.

Hours later the 33-year-old defendant went to the bedroom, grabbed the woman by the foot and began shaking her leg.

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The row continued and the defendant started gathering his belongings and said he was leaving.

The prosecutor said he became angry because the woman would not help him.

He demanded that she remove charms her bracelet and hand them to him.

She began shaking as she tried to remove them and Sofekun laughed at her.

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He picked up a mobile phone charger and flicked it towards her, striking her in the eye with the metal end.

The woman left the bedroom with the baby and went into her older child's bedroom to go to sleep.

Sofekun followed and demanded to know if the relationship was over.

She replied "yes" and he began kicking her to the leg as she was holding the baby.

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Sofekun demanded that she go to the shop to buy bin bags for his belongings.

He grabbed her by the jaw and throat and tried to lift her from the ground.

Sofekun, of Nowell View, Harehills, kicked the woman one more time before leaving.

Police were contacted and Sofekun was arrested on January 8.

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When questioned he denied the assault and claimed the woman was making it up.

He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Ben Campbell, mitigating, said Sofekun pleaded guilty to the offence at an early stage and was sorry for what he had done.

Mr Campbell said his client committed the offence at a time when he was struggling to cope with the restrictions of the pandemic.

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He said: "This was a domestic offence committed in the context of what was a very difficult year for many people in their home lives and personal relationships."

The barrister said Sofekun had spent two months in custody since his arrest.

He was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

He must complete 47 rehabilitation activity requirement days and do 150 hours of unpaid work.

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Judge Penelope Belcher said: "This was a thoroughly nasty assault in her own home and a young child was present.

"Children who witness this sort of abuse have all sorts of difficulties later.

"Children learn from adults around them how they should behave."