Exclusive:Former Army man coerced ex back to his flat twice - where he viciously assaulted her
Fitzpatrick punched and kicked his terrified ex, grabbed her by the hair and stamped on her head
A South Yorkshire former Army man hunted his ex-girlfriend down while she was out socialising with friends, coerced her back to his home and viciously assaulted her.
On both occasions Danny Fitzpatrick, aged 26, seized the woman’s phone - refusing to give it back until she accompanied him back to his flat.
Fitzpatrick punched and kicked his terrified ex, grabbed her by the hair, stamped on her head and covered her mouth and nose until she passed out.
She described in a statement read out to court genuinely thinking she was going to die during the episodes of violence.
Recorder Anthony Kelbrick told the defendant he had “humiliated and degraded” his victim.
Sheffield Crown Court heard the ex-serviceman - who was discharged from the army after seven years due to poor mental health - had been consumed by jealousy at the time of the assaults, brought on by alcohol and drugs misuse.
Stephen Littlewood, prosecuting, described how in August 2024 the complainant ended her relationship with Fitzpatrick due to his behaviour but he would not accept it was over.
On June 12 last year, Fitzpatrick’s ex was out in Barnsley town centre when she encountered him on the street and he took her phone and keys - refusing to hand them back unless she followed him back to his flat.
Once there she allowed him to unlock her phone and he flew into a “rage” when he found evidence she had been speaking with other men, the court heard.
Fitzpatrick then punched and kicked his terrified ex, grabbed her by the hair and stamped on her head and covered her mouth and nose until she passed out.
She escaped while the defendant was in the shower and he was later arrested.
In very similar circumstances Fitzpatrick confronted her again around a month later on July 11 in Barnsley town centre, and again took her phone.
After she had been punched numerous times, including to the throat, the complainant ran from his flat and police were called by a member of the public who found her.
Fitzpatrick had one previous conviction for harassment involving fear of violence, the court heard.
Recorder Anthony Kelbrick told him: “These offences are serious - you displayed extremely bad behaviour towards your female partner. You would not accept it was over. You humiliated and degraded her.
“Altogether, for her these were very distressing events and a custody sentence is inevitable.”
Fitzpatrick, of Fitzwilliam Street, Barnsley, was jailed for two years and nine months and handed a five year restraining order.
He admitted controlling and coercive behaviour and assault with actual bodily harm.