A BUSINESSMAN who lost his temper and assaulted his ex-partner, hitting her and grabbing her round the throat as she was holding their child, has been told that ‘drink is not an excuse.’
But Kelly Ord was given an 18-month community order after pleading guilty at Warwick Crown Court to assaulting Zoe Dent causing her actual bodily harm.
The judge told Ord (32) of Speedway Lane, Brandon, he was not making him subject to supervision, but ordered him to take part in a rehabilitation activity.
Prosecutor Simon Hunka said that Miss Dent had been in a relationship with Ord for two years or so, and they had a baby daughter, while she also had two other children and he had one.
But following a break-down in the relationship in June last year, she moved out and went with the children to live in Scunthorpe.
Despite that, contact was maintained, and in November Ord collected them from Scunthorpe and brought them back to his home so he could spend some time with the children.
During a meal that evening there was a disagreement over a work-related matter between Ord and his mother, who was also there, in which Miss Dent sided with his mother.
“It culminated in her going up to get the children to leave. That caused him to lose his temper, and he followed her and struck her relatively hard to the face.
“Then, while she was holding their child, he grabbed her round the throat,” said Mr Hunka.
Miss Dent suffered scratches to her neck and an injury to her eye.
When Ord, who had no previous convictions, was arrested he said he had drunk a lot and had become angry that Miss Dent had taken his mother’s side.
Judge Richard Griffith-Jones, who told Ord’s barrister he had read a number of testimonials, commented: “It was inexcusable, but they were drunk and it was about emotional issues.”
Andrew Tucker, defending, said: “A sentence which is quite unusual is put forward in the pre-sentence report.
“He accepts what he did, and wants to put matters right.
“One of the strange and ironic features is that this lady still works for his medium-sized company, but they don’t have to come into contact because she’s in Scunthorpe.”
And the judge was told that for that reason, although one had been prepared, Miss Dent did not want Ord to be made subject to a restraining order.
Sentencing Ord, Judge Griffith-Jones told him: “Drink is not an excuse, nor is the way the argument unfolded and how emotional it would make you.
“But it does provide a context which persuades me that this was an exceptional situation.”
