'You behaved like a schoolboy': Judge condemns man who knocked woman unconscious in drunken row

Paul Townend attacked the sister of his ex partner after she slapped him during a drinking session, Leeds Crown Court was told.

The 33-year-old grounds worker admitted a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm following the incident at an address on Tavistock Way, Chapelthorpe, Wakefield.

Prosecutor Joseph Bell said he had been in a relationship with the victim's sister for two years and they have a child together.

Townend had been dropping their child at the victim's house, where his former partner was, on December 20 last year and stayed to have some drinks.

The court was told that Townend drank eight cans of lager and began falling asleep.

The victim then lashed out at him, slapping him with her hand.

Townend reacted by punching her in the face, causing her to fall backwards and hit her head, leaving her unconscious.

He then ran from the house and an ambulance was called to take the victim to hospital.

She suffered a black eye, swelling to her cheek and blurred vision.

The court was told that Townend, of Newsholme Lane, Durkar, has convictions for criminal damage and domestic violence.

Gareth Henderson-Moore, mitigating, said: "He is sorry for the injury he caused. He fully accepts there was no justification for his actions.

Judge Penelope Belcher said the slap he received was an assault in itself, but added: "You had no right to respond in the way you did.

"The grown up and manly thing to do was to walk out.

"You could not say it's wholly out of character because you have a previous conviction for a domestic incident.

"You need to behave like a grown man, not a schoolboy."

She gave him a six-month jail term, suspended for 18 months.

He was also given 150 hours of unpaid work, told to pay £300 compensation to the victim and given a five-year restraining order.