June 9, 2020 4.31 pm This story is over 50 months old

Man beat ex with metal rod during vicious attack

He also smashed a lamp over her head

A man struck his ex-partner so hard with a metal baton that the weapon broke during a sustained attack on her, Lincoln Crown Court was told.

Stefan Darrigan went to his ex’s home in Boston on a pre-arranged visit but within 45 minutes of arriving he suddenly turned on her after asking about Facebook messages she received two years previously from another man.

Mark Knowles, prosecuting, told the court: “During the argument the defendant produced from his bag an extendable metal baton and started to wave it around.

“She, fearing for her safety, tried to leave the room but he prevented her.

“She feared the worst and the defendant started to attack her.”

Mr Knowles said that during the attack Darrigan repeatedly struck his ex with the metal baton. He smashed a lamp over her head and struck her with hair straighteners. He also punched her and grabbed her by the throat.

“He continued to hit her and she tried to get him off by clawing at his face and she remembers biting him.

“Such was the force he used that the metal baton he was hitting her with broke. He only stopped when he had tired himself out.”

Darrigan eventually left the property and his victim rang police. She was taken to hospital having suffered extensive bruising and two black eyes. She also had suspected fractures to her thumb and the heel of her foot.

Darrigan was arrested near to her home.

The court was told that the couple had previously been in a relationship for a number of years but separated two years ago.

Darrigan, 29, of Pilgrim Mews, Shaw Road, Boston, admitted charges of assault occasioning bodily harm and damaging property as a result of the incident on April 28 this year. He was jailed for 18 months.

Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight, passing sentence, told him: “This was a vicious and sustained assault. You didn’t just use the baton but also a lamp and hair straighteners and anything you could get hold of. You left her battered, bruised and bleeding.”

Neil Sands, in mitigation, said that Darrigan had past convictions for violence from when he was a teenager but had kept out of trouble for the last decade apart from one court appearance for being drunk and disorderly.

He said that Darrigan acted out of character and since they separated he had often visited his ex without any problems arising.