South Yorkshire thug who attacked ex-partner in street jailed

Sheffield Crown Court heard on March 20 how Andrew Havenhand, 32, of Greasbrough Road, Parkgate, Rotherham, crossed paths with the complainant who was with family in Rotherham town centre.

Neil Coxon, prosecuting, said the complainant had left briefly and returned to the group to find the defendant had arrived and he became abusive using derogatory language and he was shouting.

The defendant tried to take his and the complainant’s young daughter from the group before he told the complainant he was going to attack her and he struck her in the face, according to Mr Coxon.

Jude Rachael Harrison told Havenhand: “You are not entitled to use abusive behaviour whether verbal or physical against anybody let alone the mother of your child.”

Mr Coxon said a security guard at B&Q witnessed the assault and saw the defendant run away.

Police arrested Havenhand at his home and he was found with a small amount of cannabis.

He told police he had seen his ex-partner in Rotherham town centre and he had lost his temper and slapped her before the security guard appeared.

Havenhand, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to assault by beating and to possessing cannabis for personal use after the incident on November 18.

Chris Aspinall, defending, said Havenhand has been in custody for 60 days already and is planning to live in Wales when he is released.

Judge Harrison sentenced Havenhand to 10 weeks of custody and imposed a five-year restraining order.