By Peter Devine

A MAN who carried out a prolonged attack on a former partner has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Tommy Kelbie, 29, now of Greenacres, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, appeared at Bolton Crown Court, after admitting actual bodily harm to his partner while living in Kearsley.

As a result of the consequent breakdown of his relationship he had tried to commit suicide.

Prosecuting Brian Berlyne, said the relationship had lasted up to 10 years and the pair had a child but there had been previous acts of verbal aggression by Kelbie towards his partner in which police had been called on 10 previous occasions.

On Aug 8, shortly after 9.30am, Kelbie was standing on the path leading to his house when he saw his partner raise her finger to him from a bedroom window. Kelbie who had been drinking and taking drugs the night before was angered and went back into the house and up to the bedroom where he struck her in the face after which she she fell onto the bed where he continued kicking and punching her. She called him a bully and he kicked her right forearm five or six times and took to hitting her with a shoe.

She was left with a broken arm, heavy bruising and scratches to her whole body before friends intervened.

In a victim impact statement, she said the attack had left her numb and she thought it would never end.

She said the relationship got her depressed and because of his controlling behaviour she felt she could not go out with her friends, which left her feeling isolated.

Kelbie, who was on crunches in the dock, was subject to a recent community order for criminal damage and theft also had convictions for dishonesty and driving offences.

Defending Kevin Liston said Kelbie was a troubled individual explaining: “It would appear to be out of character and an extreme and entirely disproportionate reaction to what she did.

“He had expressed remorse and extreme disgust in what the victim suffered at his hands and subsequently he had tried to commit suicide after being involved in a road traffic accident in which he sustained damage to three vertebrae and injuries to his spine.

“It’s not an attractive proposition to punch your partner and to break her arm but he has no intention of returning to Bolton.”

Judge Graeme Smith said: “This as a vicious and sustained attack on your partner and your response was off the radar. If you look at the photographs of her arm, the bruises and the scratches you will understand how off the radar it is.

“You have made an attempt to take your own life and now you will understand how your partner felt as a result and on an ongoing basis.”

Kelbie will serve half his sentence in prison before being released on licence and a five year restraining order will prevent him from contacting his former partner either directly or indirectly.