A MAN who attacked his former partner to steal cash from her to buy drugs has been jailed for a year.
The assault at a house in Houghton Regis was carried out in front of two young children, Luton Crown Court heard.
Steven Baness, 32, had been in a relationship with the victim for 15 years, but by January 21 this year they were living apart.
Claudette Elliott, prosecuting, said on that day he called at the house saying he wanted to see the children.
He was allowed in but then became aggressive. He pulled a scarf tight around the victim’s neck, pulled her hair, hit her in the face and bit her near her eye, the court was told on Friday.
He took a £20 note from her pocket and left. A week later, while on remand in prison, he rang her and suggested she drop the charges.
Baness, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to robbery, common assault and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Judge Stuart Bridge told him: “It was partly because of your chronic drug addiction that this relationship broke down. You went to that house to get money to fuel your drug addiction. When she resisted you subjected her to a sustained assault, in front of young children, and took money from her to purchase more drugs.”
Guy Draper, defending, said: “The offence was committed in the agony of extreme desperation.
“But while in custody he has made every effort to address his drug problem and has been put in a position of trust.”
