Domestic violence victim had urn full of her dead father's ashes poured over her head and was bitten by abusive boyfriend during 'humiliating' attack at her home in Leeds

A woman had an urn full of her dead father's ashes poured over her head and was bitten during a drunken assault by her violent boyfriend.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Paul Knight was sent to prison for 15 months over the "appalling" incident at the victim's home.

A court heard police went to the property in Leeds after the woman managed to dial 999 during the incident and hid her mobile phone under her bed so an operator could hear the attack.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Knight carried out the assault after turning up drunk at the woman's home on the evening of July 12 this year.

Leeds Crown CourtLeeds Crown Court
Leeds Crown Court

Neil Coxon, prosecuting, said Knight and the woman had been in an on-off relationship for 12 months before the attack in which he had been "volatile" towards her.

Knight, 43, was under the influence of alcohol when he knocked on the woman's door around 9.30pm and she allowed him inside.

The defendant started muttering and arguing with her before going upstairs to bed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The woman stayed in the living room watching TV but heard crashing and banging coming from upstairs a short time later.

She went upstairs to find Knight smashing up a table lamp and ripping pages out of a book.

The victim asked him what he was doing and Knight called her a s*** and a w****.

Knight slapped her across the face several times which left her with bruising.

Read More
Controlling partner punched his girlfriend's front teeth out during drunken rag...
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She managed to reach for her mobile phone and dialled 999 before throwing the device under the bed so Knight could not see it.

Mr Coxon said Knight bit into the woman's shoulder, causing the skin to break.

He picked up the urn containing her father's ashes and poured it over her head as she was on the floor.

The ashes went into her eyes and mouth and she swallowed some.

Police arrived at the property and arrested Knight.

The attack is thought to have lasted around 20 minutes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The prosecutor said: "The defendant had plainly humiliated the complainant by taking her father's ashes and pouring them over her head, which is a serious aggravating feature."

Knight, of Holtdale Avenue, Adel, Leeds, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

Mr Walsh said Knight pleaded guilty to the offence at an early stage and would benefit from attending an alcohol treatment programme.

Sentencing Knight, Judge Rodney Jameson QC said: "This was appalling.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"You poured her father's ashes over her head and in her mouth and she believes she ingested some.

"It is difficult to imagine anything more upsetting.

"It was a disgraceful piece of violence.

"I tell you know that I am entirely unable to pass a non-custodial sentence because I would not be doing my duty."

Knight was also made the subject of a restraining order banning him from contacting the victim.