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A prolific violent offender who battered his girlfriend over the head with a sound bar is back out on the streets after promising a judge he is now a changed man. Jordan Burgess attacked the woman at his former home in Woodville, near Ashby, last year.
The 42-year-old abattoir worker had left the woman bleeding and screaming for help on a 999 call to police after he repeatedly struck her with the speaker. Investigating officers later found blood and strands of her hair on the hefty weapon, which weighed several kilograms, reports DerbyshireLive.
Burgess has spent the past eight months in custody awaiting sentence for the offence. He appeared by video link from HMP Nottingham at Derby Crown Court this week.
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The attack happened at Burgess’s then flat, which was above the village Post Office in High Street, on November 17. Siward James-Moore, prosecuting, said the woman had gone to see Burgess at around 10.30am. He had begun drinking and she had decided to leave, taking her sound bar with her.
“The defendant grabbed her and the sound bar and struck her over the head with it,” said Mr James-Moore. “He pinned her to a chair and carried on wielding the speaker, striking her at least three more times with it.
“She realised she was bleeding heavily. It was running down her face. She picked up her phone to call the police but he slapped her to the face.”
The woman managed to escape downstairs, and called 999. She was helped by the postmaster, who drove her to hospital, where she received treatment for her injuries. Burgess was arrested the following day as he stood in a queue in a shop in nearby Swadlincote.
Mr James-Moore said: “On the speaker, police found long strands of her hair as well as her blood.” Burgess was initially charged with wounding, but later pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
(Image: Derby Telegraph)
The court was told the defendant had a raft of previous convictions that dated back 25 years. They included a number of other violent offences.
The prosecutor said Burgess’s more recent offending had been thefts, mainly from shops but included stealing a charity box from a pub. His persistant criminal behavour had also seen him banned from entering Swadlincote town centre.
Darron Whithead, defending, said Burgess had already served the equivalent of a 17-month sentence behind bars for the attack while awaiting his punishment hearing. He also said the victim had continued a relationship with Burgess during his imprisonment, and presented to the court letters and cards she had sent him while in jail.
Mr Whitehead argued that the time Burgess had already served was adequate punishment for the crime. He also told the recorder that his client had “lost his grandfather, who was 89 years old, and he was not allowed to go to his funeral, and he has had Covid twice since being in HMP Nottingham”.
Recorder Penelope Stanistreet-Keen gave Burgess a 46-month jail sentence for the crime, but suspended it for 18 months. She told him: “It is clear that the relationship between you and [the victim] was unhealthy at the time, but whatever led up to this there is no excuse for hitting her over the head with a speaker.
“You appear to have a troubling attitude towards relationships. I have read the transcript of the 999 call and she is clearly distressed, and I have seen the injuries to her eye. You also have previous convictions for violence against previous partners.”
Burgess, addressing the court, said: “I won’t let you down, I am just grateful to be let out of here.” He added: “I want to get back to work and to my family. Thank you, your honour. Cheers.”
Burgess must attend a 31-day programme involving 30 rehabilitation sessions. He was also ordered to undertake 40 hours of unpaid work in the community.
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