CONVICTED | Mark Slonecki, born c. 1984, of Station Road, Ilkeston – attacked his partner with a golf club when she tried to stop him hitting her dog
Slonecki, who has a history of violent offending, attacked a helpless dog and then his partner after struggling to contain his anger.
Prosecutor Jonathon Dee said the attack happened at Slonecki’s home in Station Road on October 28, 2019.
He said an argument developed between the defendant and his partner and during it he started to hit the victim’s dog before picking up the golf club and striking her with it.
Mr Dee said: “He started to hit the dog, he had done that in the past to get a reaction from her and she tried to stop him.
“She describes him whacking her (with the golf club) and then punching her several times.
“She was left with a cut above her eye, bruising to her left arm and bruising to her leg.
“The defendant attended the police station the following day and said she had taken his house keys.
“He was arrested, bailed and was due to attend the police station again on December 30, when he was going to be charged, but failed to show up.”
Slonecki denied the offence, taking it to trial at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court where he was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He admitted the lesser charge of failing to surrender to custody.
Sending Slonecki to prison for two years, Judge Robert Egbuna said: “The offence you have been convicted of is a very serious offence.
“You have to understand that just as men need to be protected from women who attack them, women also need to be protected from men who do the same.
“You picked up a golf club, it was a wedge to be precise and you used that weapon to cause significant injuries to her.
“You used it with some force on her and you are fortunate that the injuries were not more severe than the ABH for which you were charged.
“This was domestic violence, you picked up a weapon and attacked her in the way that you did.
“And although I bear in mind you have not served a custodial sentence before, this is so serious it can’t be suspended.”
Jo Harvey, mitigating, said his client has a child from a former relationship and on the day of the assault “struggled to contain his anger”.
He said: “She tried to stop him hitting the dog and he reacted. As far as the relationship is concerned he does not want to be in it any more.”
Slonecki did not face charges in relation to the dog and was not therefore banned from keeping animals.
