Sheffield Crown Court: 'No remorse' from callous thug who beat partner while their young children were home

A violent man who beat his partner while their three young children were present has been slammed by a Sheffield judge for his lack of remorse. 

During the course of the violent incident on October 21, 2022, 27-year-old Jason Marriott not only assaulted his partner, leaving her with what prosecutors described as ‘significant injuries’, but he also attacked his own mother when she attempted to intervene, Sheffield Crown Court heard.  

Referring to the contents of Marriott’s pre-sentence report, and a number of outbursts he made during his October 24, 2023 sentencing hearing, Judge Sarah Wright told him: "It appears you show no remorse, and seem to blame others, particularly your partner."

"You have sought to minimise the very serious assault you perpetrated on the mother of your children."

Judge Wright also told Marriott - that in her view - his partner ‘shows all the signs of being subjected to coercive control by you’. 

The court was told how at the time of the October 2021 incident, Marriott was on a suspended sentence for another attack on his partner.

Prosecuting barrister, Katherine White, said the complainant’s initial statement to the police asserted that during the course of the 30-minute assault, Marriott punched her ‘four to five times,’ attempted to snap her ankle and pulled her hair out. 

The complainant sent a picture of the facial injuries Marriott had inflicted to his mother, causing her to come to the house to intervene, Ms White said. 

Describing what happened next, Judge Wright continued: "For trying to help, you assaulted your own mother, dragging her by the hair, throwing items at her and trying to headbutt her."

During the course of the incident, Marriott also attempted to break both complaints’ mobile phones. 

Marriott’s mother contacted the police, and he was arrested after being found ‘hiding’ in the garden.

Ms White said the complainant attended hospital and had bruising to her left eye and left cheek; swelling to her forehead and jaw, and a small laceration to her forehead. 

Following the incident, Marriott was released on bail and proceeded to take a car belonging to the complainant’s father in February 2023, going on to ram three other cars with it.

When arrested in connection with the incident, Marriott was found to be in possession of cannabis.

Both complainants withdrew their support for his prosecution, but Marriott, of Elgar Drive, Maltby, Rotherham, was charged with and pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, battery, possession of cannabis and aggravated vehicle taking without consent. 

Defending, Richard Adams acknowledged that Marriott ‘hadn’t done himself any favours’ with the lack of remorse demonstrated to the author of his pre-sentence report, but said he had been able to gain some insight into Marriott’s offending. 

"Aged 15 he had got involved in an argument with another schoolboy. It resulted in him being shot with a shotgun," Mr Adams said, adding that the incident has left Marriott with a ‘large part of his arm missing’. 

The individual responsible for the attack received a 10-year sentence, Mr Adams told the corut.

Mr Adams said Marriott’s father died from cardiomyopathy in 2021, and in addition to grieving his father he has been faced with the prospect that the condition is hereditary.

Mr Adams said Marriott’s use of drink and drugs turned him into a ‘Jekyll and Hyde-type character’ and he now recognises that about himself. 

Jailing Marriott for 16 months, Judge Wright told him: "You’ve had substantial time in custody, and have had time to reflect on what you’ve done; but it appears that you have not got to the point where you realise that you are to blame, and not anyone else."

Judge Wright also disqualified Marriott from driving for eight months.