A Penrith man assaulted his partner with punches and swung a kitchen knife towards her while making a chilling kill threat.
Some of 23-year-old Levi Miller’s domestic offences, at the woman’s home in Carlisle, were witnessed by a neighbour, the city’s crown court heard.
These occurred on 26th May when, after they argued about a set of car keys, Miller punched his partner to the left side of her face, causing pain in the eye and dizziness. He then struck her again, with an open palm, causing her glasses to break and a cut above her eye, which bled. After visiting a pub, intending to talk things through, they returned home but when Miller then left the address he was seen by the neighbour to kick and damage her car, before punching her to the eye.
Miller threw items, struck the woman to her face and body, yelled verbal abuse and stamped on her leg.
Prosecutor Kim Whittlestone said of the partner: “She describes the defendant picking up a kitchen knife and swinging it towards her, stating he was going to kill her. This came into contact with her arm, causing a scratch.”
Police were called and, when Miller later appeared at the crown court, he admitted two counts of actual bodily harm assault, damaging property and threatening a person with a bladed article.
As Miller, of Bridge Street, Penrith, was sentenced, the court heard his partner had co-operated with the criminal prosecution until just before he was due to stand trial — and following the tragic death of his brother.
Judge Nicholas Barker was also told Miller had spent a period of time in custody on remand before being granted bail, and was lightly convicted.
After hearing mitigation, Judge Barker imposed a two-year community order. Miller must complete rehabilitation work with the probation service, a “building better relationships” course, 150 hours’ community service and a 90-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement.
The latter sanction means he will be fitted with a device which will flag up any alcohol consumption.
