Man kicked partner in sustained attack

A man badly beat up his partner in an alcohol-fuelled row and threw her downstairs - then went outside and smashed 15 cars in the street with a hammer.

Paul Ladd carried out a sustained attack on the mother of his three young children, Lisa Cook, before grabbing the hammer and smashing the windows of neighbours' cars, a court was told.

Ladd, 27, of Ravenswood Mews, Carlton Colville, near Lowestoft, pleaded guilty to assault and criminal damage and will spend Christmas behind bars after Lowestoft magistrates remanded him in custody pending a pre-sentence report.

Naomi Turner, prosecuting, told the court that violence flared after Ladd and Ms Cook returned from watching one of their children's nativity play on December 13.

Ladd admitted drinking eight cans of lager and an argument started over a mobile phone. The violence escalated as Ladd confronted Ms Cook at the top of the stairs at about 1am.

Mrs Turner said: “He grabbed Lisa by the arm and was shaking her and shouting. He threw her down the stairs and kicked her repeatedly in the face, chest and stomach.

“It was clearly a sustained attack, with him kicking Lisa while she was on the ground. It was a very nasty assault.”

Ladd then turned his attentions to Ms Cook's sister, who tried to stop the attack.

“Clair grabbed a knife and a hammer, fearing she was going to be attacked. He shouted at her 'do you want some - you'll be dead next',” added Mrs Turner.

Ladd, who has previous convictions for domestic violence, grabbed the hammer from Ms Down and left the house, smashing the windows of cars in the area until he was stopped by police, whom he told: “I want to be inside for Christmas turkey”.

As a result of the attack,

Ms Cook suffered swelling to

her eyes and cheekbone, and

a bloody nose.

James Hartley, for Ladd, said the couple had been together for nearly seven years and had two boys, aged five and three, and a girl aged four.

He said: “They were getting along well, but he does acknowledge that in recent times the majority of his offending has been domestic-related. It's a fiery relationship, which has given rise to previous offending.

“He is remorseful and accepts the relationship is now at an end. Lisa doesn't want any further contact with him.”

Mr Hartley said it was understood social services would not have been happy about Ladd remaining in the house with the children following the latest attack. He added that Ladd had since cut his wrist with a razor blade.

Adjourning the case for pre-sentence reports, magistrate Sue Pawson said: “This was a sustained domestic attack, with repeated kicking, while the victim was on the ground.”