How long would you think someone would get for beating up his GF with witnesses?

[ImJustNotSure]

• A 37-year-old man has been convicted of Section 20 GBH after he beat the mother of his children so badly in the middle of a hospital that she was left with a fracture to her cheek and a visible footprint to her forehead.

John McNamara, 37, of Towcester, was at Northampton General Hospital on May 13, 2019, alongside his wife and their son, who was being treated in the children’s ward.

Following an argument, McNamara assaulted his wife in an unprovoked attack, in which he repeatedly punched and kicked her, before stamping on her face and attempting to choke her.

Fortunately, she was able to shout for help and was assisted by a nearby doctor who on two occasions had to pull McNamara off her prior to the attack finally coming to a close.

The assault left her with a fractured cheekbone, bruising to her chest, visible strangulation marks to her neck and cuts underneath her eye, as well as a visible footprint to her forehead.

At Northampton Crown Court last month, McNamara was given a suspended sentence of 19 months, and a restraining order for the next five years.

Lead Investigator, DC Chris Mann, said: “This was a very public and terrifying attack which took place in the middle of a children’s ward at Northampton General Hospital, at the bedside of a seven-month-old child, who was on oxygen.

“It was a disgusting and brazen attack and the woman in this case has shown exceptional bravery in supporting this prosecution and our investigation from beginning to the end – I cannot overstate how much courage she has shown.

"Our victim in this case was always of the opinion that if she didn’t take the stand, things would never change and she hopes others have the same courage to take a stand against domestic related violence, and bring perpetrators of domestic violence to justice.

“This case has been a dark cloud over her head since it happened in May 2019 and I am glad that it has reached a conclusion with McNamara being convicted of the offence against her.”*

I just don’t understand how he’s got a suspended sentence. Since reading this a few hours ago I can’t stop thinking about this poor woman, her child and every other woman out there who won’t bother speaking out abuse.

At first I was thinking that he’d only get 4 years with ‘our justice system’. I’ve also just seen a 17-year-old girl got two years for riding in the car as her drug dealer boyfriend.

I’m enraged.

Given that it happened in May '19 (more than 19 months ago), he is immediately released, right? So the sentence is nominal.

What we think he should get doesn't matter.

He will have been sentenced in line with the guidelines according to his conviction by a jury of his peers - judges have no ability to arbitrarily decide the length or severity of sentencing.

If you want this to change, you'll need to lobby the government to change the sentencing guidelines.

@forinborin

Given that it happened in May '19 (more than 19 months ago), he is immediately released, right? So the sentence is nominal.

It was a suspended sentence.

I would say it sounds unbelievable, but then I remember that the is just the English justice system doing it's usual thing.

I was once witness to a man attacking his girlfriend in public completely unprovoked and knocking her to the ground with a single punch.

It wasn't the first time he'd done.

He pled guilty.

He didn't get a custodial sentence.

Basically, it's legal for men to assault women.

Sigh, this shit happens all of the time. I was assaulted by my ex in front of many people. It was also close to a shop so they had some CCTV not of the actual assault but definitely of him leaving the shop and running at me (I was just walking down the street- he’d been stalking me for months after we split). The police did fuck all. Took a statement from me, questioned him, he even admitted to it but they said they it didn’t sound serious enough to prosecute so dropped it.

Also regularly physically and emotionally abused by my former step-dad growing up. Called the police after he assaulted both me and my Mum when I was 15, they did nothing. Made him stay at his parent’s house for the night and described it as ‘just another domestic’.

The police are fucking useless.

There could have been things going on behind the scenes - maybe the wife wrote to the judge requesting leniency? Or maybe he'd already served time in jail whilst awaiting sentencing and if the judge can only give a maximum jail sentence he might have served it already?

But I agree it's an insult of a punishment

Well he got more than I expected of our justice system. I thought they would be really stupid and do community service only or like 5 months. But it's still shit what he got.

There was an episode on 24 hours in police custody where a woman basically killed her male partner and avoided being prosecuted for murder or even manslaughter. The really sad part was it had happened before and this was the time he finally had a plan to get away from her and Co operate with the police to ensure a prosecution.

Suspended sentence? Sounds about usual . Women are punchbags for men, don't forget .😭

were up to me he'd be banged up for at the very least 20 years. Sadly though I don't make up the rules.

Only a woman, innit?

They aren't bothered about them.

@andivfmakes3

There could have been things going on behind the scenes - maybe the wife wrote to the judge requesting leniency? Or maybe he'd already served time in jail whilst awaiting sentencing and if the judge can only give a maximum jail sentence he might have served it already?

But I agree it's an insult of a punishment

I think criminal prosecution in such cases is public (so that the victim cannot really ask to drop the case)... but I'm not an expert. Yes, it is shocking.

From the looks of it he was charged with a section 20 GBH which has a max sentence of 5 years but from the sounds of it judges rarely sentence people to jail time under this offence?

Had they been charged with a section 18 GBH on the other hand he would likely have got jail time - the difference Between a s20 and a s18 being that in a s18 the defendant fully intended to cause serious bodily harm rather than just "foresee" it under a s20

Sounds like the judges hands were tied a bit - it's up to the police and the CPS what they charged him with so they must have gone for the less serious s20 to ensure a conviction even if meant no jail time rather than risk a s18 and him be found not guilty?

He didn't serve any custodial time at all, even pre-trial

Probably nothing. Local lady here was caught on her neighbours cctv being beat up outside her house by her bf. Caused her to loose her baby. Guess whose still in the house with her and her 3 kids. He is. Police came I think he spent 1 night in custody.

And he has a history of violence against woman. Even grabbed her child once and the kids tell neighbours they are scared of him. SS involved but no one cares. Such a sad world.