Jealous thug unleashed vicious attack on internet girlfriend

A jealous thug who unleashed a vicious and relentless attack on his internet girlfriend has narrowly been spared from jail.
Chesterfield magistrates' court.Chesterfield magistrates' court.
Chesterfield magistrates' court.

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Wednesday, February 17, how Michael Din, 29, of Willow Garth Road, Chesterfield, attacked his partner in her Chesterfield home only three months after they had hooked up over the internet.

Prosecuting solicitor Sarah Haslam told how Din grabbed her by the neck, pushed her, pinned her down, elbowed her in the stomach, repeatedly hit her and bent her thumb back while her two children were sleeping.

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Miss Haslam said: “They had been in a relationship which started in March on the internet with regular messages.

“On this occasion, the complainant was at her home and they had an argument and Din became jealous and accused her of having other relationships which was not true.”

Miss Haslam added that booze-fuelled Din was asked to leave but he followed her upstairs and grabbed her by the neck before going downstairs and damaging the front door.

Din then pushed his partner on the sofa, according to Miss Haslam, and pinned her down, elbowed her in the stomach and hit her several times.

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Miss Haslam added: “Din put both hands around the complainant’s neck until she couldn’t scream and she was light-headed and gasping for air and thought he was going to kill her.

“He let her go and she ran upstairs to her bedroom and blocked the door but he pushed it open and she was pushed in the chest onto the bed and he straddled her and pinned her down and she scratched him in self-defence.

“The defendant then hit her twice to the left side of her face and grabbed her right thumb and bent it backwards until it cracked with the pain going through her body.”

The court heard how the complainant managed to escape and get outside as a neighbour was alerted.

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Following a trial, Din was found guilty of assault and causing criminal damage after the incident in June.

Defence solicitor Kevin Tomlinson said Din now accepts the complainant’s account of her being grabbed around the neck, being elbowed and being punched but he also claims he had struck her after she scratched him.

Mr Tomlinson added: “The defendant recognises the impact of domestic violence on victims and according to a probation service report he poses a low risk of re-offending.

“He came out of the trial saying they have found me to be a monster but the court needs to take into account the issues raised in mitigation.”

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Magistrates sentenced Din to 20 weeks of custody suspended for 12 months with a rehabilitation activity requirement and 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £500 compensation, £125 costs and £80 victim surcharge and was given a three-year restraining order.