Racist Leeds thug who abused social worker with gorilla emojis jailed for punching woman
A thug who escaped an immediate custodial sentence after a tirade of racist taunts has now been locked up for attacking his girlfriend.
Reece Woodward, who sent gorilla emojis to a black social worker, was given a suspended sentence last year.
But part of that was sentence was activated this week at Leeds Crown Court, for attacking his partner after a day of heavy drinking.
The couple had been in relationship for around a year. The court heard there had been several previous domestic incidents, although no charges were ever brought.
On January 23 this year, they had been out in Leeds city centre, bowling and drinking.
But at around 1am the next morning, they began to argue. He threatened to punch her and stab her, the court heard.
They got a taxi home and continued to argue. The woman wanted to go to her mother’s but when they got to Broadlea Terrace in Bramley, Woodward got out.
The woman opened the door, but then shut it again and asked the driver to take her elsewhere.
Woodward opened the door and got back in, demanding she get out.
He grabbed her by the neck and began walking her to the property, but when she fell, he punched her to the face.
The taxi driver was so concerned he contacted the police. Officers arrived and arrested Woodward.
He appeared in court this week over a video link from HMP Leeds, admitting a charge of assault.
He has nine previous convictions for 16 offences including assault and ABH.
He received his 16-week suspended sentence in January last year for racially-aggravated harassment against the social worker.
He had sent her messages calling her a “tree-swinging f***”, and a “black c***”.
Mitigating for his latest offence, Aimilia Katsoulakis said he was “deeply remorseful” and had “expressed genuine shame”.
She said the father-of-two, who is now of no fixed address, was “determined to make meaningful changes”.
The judge, Recorded Jeremy Hill-Baker gave him eight weeks’ jail for the assault, and activated eight weeks of the suspended sentence, making a total of 16 weeks.
He was also handed a five-year restraining order to keep him away from his ex partner.