Bolton: Man hit woman on back of head in 'appalling' attack

Bradley Martin, aged 27, went around to the victim's house on August 23 last year.

Martin, who is of Woodvale Gardens, Great Lever, entered the house without permission and got in a fight with his brother, before assaulting the victim. 

He was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm at a magistrates court trial. 

Martin was brought before Bolton Crown Court to be sentenced. 

Prosecuting, Amy Weir said: "The victim was in a relationship with the defendant's brother. 

"On August 23, 2023, the defendant entered her home. She went downstairs to find the defendant." 

She told Martin to leave, to which he replied "don't tell me what to do" and refused to leave. 

A mugshot of Bradley Martin from 2016 Ms Weir said: "The defendant then became angry, the victim called for her partner who was upstairs. 

"He came downstairs and tried to push him out of the back door. They tussled with each other and were on the kitchen floor. 

"The victim was then struck with something metal and sharp to the back of the head, which caused bleeding." 

The defendant made off and police and paramedics were called - his victim needed five stitches to the head. 

In her victim personal statement, she said how she has installed cameras "due to the anxiety she feels about this". 

She also said she is "constantly watching her back" and "feels unsafe in her own home". 

Martin had 29 convictions for 46 offences. 

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Defending, Wayne Jackson said: "The defendant is 27 years old and has had 17 years of endless offending before the court. 

"The court gave him a chance with a suspended sentence and he is playing ball. He has made good progress and thinks it is time to change his life. 

The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

"He wants to change his life and the penny has dropped, it would seem, after 17 years." 

Concluding, Judge Elliot Knopf said: "It does not take for me to explain to you how serious a strike on the head that causes a wound that requires five stitches can be.

"One can understand the victim's concerns about what happened. It no doubt weighs heavily on her." 

He added: "It is suggested that you have turned a corner, you have had a change in your lifestyle and now are committed to turn your back on the sort of activity which has resulted in your appearance before the courts with monotonous regularity. 

"It was an appalling act, it may be in the heat of the moment, but lashing out at a woman with what appears to be an implement, is an appalling offence." 

He sentenced Martin to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for two years. He also ordered him to do 200 hours of unpaid work, 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days, to undertake a Building Choices programme and to be under supervision for 18 months. 

Judge Knopf added: "I have given you a chance which some people may say is not appropriate. I want to see whether or not Mr Jackson's confidence in you turning a corner and the probation service's confidence of a change in you proves to be right. 

"If you throw this back in mine and Mr Jackson's faces, you will go to prison."