This is Leicestershire --A man drove a car with his screaming ex-partner trapped underneath while her baby son watched, a court was told.
Andrew Coleman (24) of Aikman Avenue, New Parks, Leicester, appeared for sentence at Leicester Crown Court after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, drink-driving, and criminal damage and being found guilty of assault on July 20, 2013.
Prosecutor James Bide-Thomas said the relationship between Coleman and the woman had been "a little rocky", and, on July 19, she had left their home, leaving Coleman in charge of her 15-month-old son. "She returned to the sound of loud music playing and her son crying," said Mr Bide-Thomas. "The defendant was lying drunk in bed. Some threats were made and she locked herself in her son's bedroom. The defendant threw paint outside the room and then got into a car."
He said the woman tried to retrieve her handbag from the vehicle, was pushed in the chest and, when the car began to reverse at some speed, she became tangled under the car, trapped and screaming.
"It travelled 15ft, or two car lengths," said Mr Bide-Thomas. "She was at the passenger side of the car and, when the vehicle turned, she became disentangled."
A witness heard Coleman shouting: "I hope someone slits your throat. I mean it."
Mr Bide-Thomas said there was no suggestion Coleman had used the car to attack her.
When arrested, Coleman proved positive for alcohol, with 50 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit for driving is 35 microgrammes.
Coleman accepted causing criminal damage but said the woman had assaulted him, although he had no injuries, and accepted he had driven the car when drunk.
Catherine Chasemore, for Coleman, said the couple had been together for four months.
In a victim impact statement, the woman said Coleman had exhibited elements of controlling behaviour and, as a result, she had taken herself away to a women's refuge.
The woman said she lacked confidence, was scared to go on a bus or into an area where there might be problems and was being judged in her role as a mother because of what had happened.
Judge Robert Brown suggested the woman wanted the relationship to end, but Coleman disagreed.
Ms Chasemore said there was little, if any, mitigation for Coleman's actions, all of which were witnessed by a child.
Judge Brown said the child would recall the incident. "He was awake and screaming."
The judge believed Coleman was guilty of controlling, almost obsessive, behaviour.
"His low cognitive abilities meant that he lacked confidence in doing anything on his own – he did not deliberately set out to make her life hell."
He was sentenced to six months for dangerous driving, six months for actual bodily harm, both suspended for 12 months and ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work, given a five-year restraining order preventing him from contacting his victim or going where she lived, ordered to pay her £500 compensation and was disqualified from obtaining a driving licence for 12 months. Reported by This is 13 hours ago.