Man punched his ex-partner repeatedly in Bradford park

The scene played out in front of shocked members of the public who had flagged down the officer after witnessing the domestic abuse in a Bradford park.

Prosecutor Philip Adams told Bradford Crown Court how Mark Bennett, 35, of North Wing, Bradford, approached the woman in the park on February 11 this year.

Victim was told her neck would be 'snapped'

He had earlier called her in an “extremely agitated” state and, as he approached her, he was described as “not looking right”.

He said to her, “If you move, I’ll drop you where you stand,” before taking off his jacket “as if preparing himself for a fight”.

He then grabbed the woman “in a tight hug” and whispered that he would “snap her neck” if she moved.

Mr Adams said: “He then covered her mouth with one hand and punched her repeatedly to her stomach, the right-hand side of her face, and the left-hand side of her head.

“He then stepped away and snatched [the victim’s] phone from her hand when she tried to call the police.”

He threatened to burn down her mother’s house if she told anyone what had happened.

The woman ran away and told other people in the park to ring the police.

An officer who arrived was flagged down by other parkgoers and drove after Bennett, who was a passenger in a car and pulled it over.

Police were flagged down

Bennett got out and began shouting. He refused to be fully handcuffed and became increasingly agitated. He resisted when the officer tried to take him to the ground and both men began “grappling together” in the street.

The officer was caught in a headlock and then sprayed in the face with his PAVA incapacitant spray when Bennett got hold of it and pressed the trigger.

The officer managed to recover the spray and used it on Bennett, which subdued him until other police arrived to assist.

On being arrested and interviewed Bennett said he had been involved in a verbal argument with his partner, had done nothing wrong and that the PAVA spray had “fallen out” of the officer’s tactical vest.

Long list of previous convictions for serious offences

The court heard that Bennett had a long list of previous convictions for assault, battery, racially aggravated harassment, burglary, criminal damage, and assaulting police officers.

The case was heard at Bradford Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

In a letter to the court, the victim said she retracted her complaint and wanted Bennett dealt with in the community to assist him with his mental health.

The court heard that before the incident in the park, Bennett had not threatened or assaulted her.

Bennett later pleaded guilty to two charges of assault by beating.

Mitigating, Ella Embleton said Bennett, who had been in custody for 87 days, was someone who “at the moment cannot process his emotions” and urged the court to show leniency.

'You will get the book thrown at you' warning from judge

Sentencing Bennett to consecutive four-month sentences in prison for each offence suspended for two years, Mr Recorder Bryan Cox KC said he had “a very bad record” for violence against women and the police.

He said: “You will have an eight-month sentence hanging over you for a two-year period. If you commit any offence – and in particular any offence of violence – it is as clear as night follows day that you will serve that prison sentence.

“You will get the book thrown at you.

“You are very fortunate that you were not charged with threats to kill in relation to the assault on your partner. If you had been, my sentencing powers would have been very much greater than they are today.”

He told Bennett that he was required to attend the building better relationships programme as well as 24 rehabilitation activity requirement days “to give you the therapeutic help that you claim you need.”