Violent boyfriend attacked partner with ashtray and assaulted her in the street

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Wednesday, February 17, how Michael Dove, 27, of Gipsy Lane, Old Whittington, Chesterfield, broke his partner’s arm during the ashtray attack and tried to push her into a wall during a subsequent assault.

Prosecuting solicitor Sarah Haslam said: “Police initially received a call regarding a female who had been assaulted by a male at Boythorpe Road, near the Whitecotes public house.

“People were gathered around a woman on the ground and the defendant was nearby.

“The complainant explained she had been in a relationship with Dove since May and she had got her own property and this had altered his attitude.”

Miss Haslam said the couple had gone out and the defendant had grabbed the complainant, pushed her and tried to push her into a wall several times and he grabbed her around the throat.

Dove told police he had been drunk and remembered pulling the complainant’s hair.

Following Dove’s arrest for this assault on Christmas Day, last year, he was also arrested and charged for a previous attack on his girlfriend involving an ashtray from October 30, last year.

The court heard how Dove had tried to hit his girlfriend over the head with the ashtray in October and had struck her arm and she suffered a fracture.

Miss Haslam added: “Hr had tried to hit her over the head with a glass ashtray and she put her right arm over her head and the ashtray struck and broke her arm.

“She told people at the time she had slipped but after the second assault she told the full details.”

Dove pleaded guilty to the assault and to inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Defence solicitor Amy Hobson said: “He has made full and frank admissions and the incident involving the ashtray only came to light after the second assault.

“He has ongoing issues with alcohol.”

Magistrates committed the case to Derby Crown Court for sentencing on March 18.

Dove was released on conditional bail on the grounds he does not contact the complainant or go to Birdholme and Grangewood.