Jail for Doncaster thug who snapped girlfriend's arm in jealous rage

Brett Cross, of HMP Doncaster, was on his way into town with his then girlfriend on the evening of December 16 last year, when an argument broke out between the pair, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

This led to the pair ending the night before it had begun and returning home, at which point an argument broke out.

Prosecuting, David Wade, explained: "He was paranoid about her sleeping with one of his friends, and she threatened that."

Wade then pulled the young woman, who is also the mother of his child, to the floor and began kicking her face and body.

"She felt the heel of his foot making contact with her arm, and snap a bone," continued Mr Wade.

He added: "She called out for help. When her father, who she'd rung, called out the house he started being abusive [towards him]."

The woman suffered a fractured arm, which required surgery and for metal plates to be fitted, as well as cuts to her face and behind her ear.

Mr Wade told the court how when the woman was treated in hospital, she initially lied about how she had come by her injuries because she did not want their two-year-old daughter to be deprived of a dad.

Throughout the lengthy recovery process for her fractured arm, which left her incapable of changing her daughter's nappy, Cross refused to help look after their child.

She later went to the police and reported Cross for the attack.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, the courageous woman said: "Many people have wondered why I stayed with you, and I have to question it myself.

"When he was nice he could be the best person, but then he would change. It was like living with two different people.

"I felt my life was never my own. This affected my whole family, and ruined Christmas time. I couldn't even change my daughter's nappy."

Cross, who turned 29 today - the day of his sentencing, pleaded guilty to one count of wounding/inflicting grievous bodily harm at an earlier hearing.

Judge Roger Thomas QC sentenced Cross to two years in prison.

He said: "In this relationship you have been disorderly and violent. You have previous convictions carried out against this complainant.

"You really went far too far on this occasion.

"It seems, that in all probability, you had been drinking; and at the family home you set about her.

"You seemed to have felt some sort of jealous thoughts.

"She didn't, in fact, report this assault to the police at the time. It's interesting and concerning that often victims feel it's so difficult to make contact with the supporting services.

"This domestic violence was carried out by such a man as you, strong and healthy, who attacked a woman in her own home."

Judge Thomas also put a restraining order into place, which prevents Cross from contacting the victim and two members of her family.