https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/domestic-abuse-thugs-thumbs-up-31678925
A serial domestic abuser gave a thumbs up to a judge as he walked free from court. Ainsley White deliberately caused his girlfriend to crash her car by pulling on the handbrake as she drove them home from a trip to Blackpool - then attacked her with a wheel locking nut.
The thug then left his victim permanently scarred after attacking her as he attempted repairs at the roadside. After his latest sentence, he has now been convicted of attacking four different partners.
A trial at Liverpool Crown Court heard that White, of Lilford Avenue in Bewsey, Warrington, had been in a relationship with the woman for around 10 weeks. But their relationship was marred by arguments and violence, including the 40-year-old dragging her down the stairs by her hair on one occasion.
Matthew Conway, prosecuting, described how the defendant had been drinking and taking cocaine before another incident in August last year, when he told her while holding a knife: "I will fing kill you, you know. I didn't want to but f, I will."
Later the same evening, White was said to have left her with a black eye after pushing her head into the bed, leaving her struggling to breathe, and hitting her to the head. He later handed her an ice pack and told her that he would not allow her to leave the property until her facial injuries had healed.
Then, on August 11 2024, the couple had been driving home from a visit to Blackpool when they began arguing. White responded by pulling the handbrake of her car, causing her to "lose control and spin into a kerb". He then took over the driving from her, but their journey was halted once again when one of the vehicle's tyres "popped". While attempting repairs, he then began "blaming her" and threw a wheel locking nut at her face, reports The Echo.
In a statement which was read to the court on her behalf yesterday, Monday, she detailed how she has been left with a permanent scar. She had previously worked part-time at mental health hospital, although she ultimately quit her job.
The jury were however told that White claimed to detectives under interview that her injuries had been caused by "mentally unstable patients". The woman's statement added: "Every time I see my scar, it reminds me about the incident and how it happened. I was always in fear of Mr White and lied about how I obtained my injuries.
"I was terrified of what he could potentially do to me."
Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, White was seen shaking his head at times as her statement was read to the court. He was later arrested when police attended his home at around 10am on August 14, although they had to force entry using a battering ram after he barricaded the front door shut.
Once inside, officers had to use their incapacitant spray in order to detain him. Even after being handcuffed, White continued to threaten to "knock out" one PC and told another as he attempted to place him into a carrier van: "You ain't getting me in there, watch."
His criminal record shows a total of 36 previous convictions for 74 offences, dating back to 1996. This includes two offences of battery against one partner in 2003, an assault against another girlfriend in 2006, an appearance for assault occasioning actual bodily harm against a third partner in 2009 and a further count of battery in 2021 against a "woman he met on a night out".
Sarah Holt, defending the self-employed carpet fitter, told the court: "Your honour will see the difficulties that he has had, which were not dealt with and continued into his adult life. Much of the behaviour he exhibits is a reflection of that which he experienced as a young child.
"There is time for him to change, but it has to be structured intervention. His time in custody has allowed him to get fit and healthy, to become clean and to be positive. He still has accommodation open to him. He has been in custody for nine months now, the equivalent of an 18-month sentence. I understand that he wants help and would seek the assistance of the Probation Service."
White, who was found guilty of two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm by a jury but admitted obstructing police, was handed a two-year community order with a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 30 days, a programme requirement, a six-month GPS trail monitoring requirement and a 10-year restraining order.
He was also told to pay £500 in compensation, £250 in court costs and a £114 victim surcharge, and reacted to his sentence by putting two thumbs up to the camera and saying: "Thank you."
Sentencing, District Judge Gwyn Jones said: "There was a consistent pattern of consuming substances and drink. Domestic abuse was something which occurred on a regular basis.
"Your wish to have a degree of control over [the woman] was extremely unhealthy and not a basis on which any form of relationship was likely to succeed. If I gave you immediate custody today, bearing in mind the time that you have already spent in custody, it is likely that you would be eligible to be released in the course of the next few days and weeks.
"While I am quite satisfied that my starting point would be immediate custody, I am trying to see whether there would be a more constructive sentence."