Nottinghamshire man who held his six-month-old baby by the neck while assaulting his ex-partner has been jailed

A man who held his six-month-old baby by the neck while assaulting his ex-partner has been jailed.
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While heavily intoxicated, Billy Moran, 30, called his ex-partner, who cannot be named for legal reasons, demanding to see his six-month-old son and threatened to damage her car and house on 10 July at 10pm.

His ex-partner refused to speak with him and turned her phone off so Moran, of Albert Avenue, Balderton, Newark, turned up at his ex-partner’s house at 10.15pm, gaining entry through the kitchen door.

Moran began arguing with his ex-partner and ignored demands to leave, instead grabbing her by the neck and pushing her against the kitchen cupboard. She was able to push him off and he then made his way into the living room, where he punched his ex-partner and picked up his son, who was in the room. The ex-partner and her friend, who was also in the house, began demanding Moran hand the baby back, to which he refused and instead assaulted his ex-partner further by grabbing her by the neck and pushing her against the living room wall.

Billy MoranBilly Moran
Billy Moran

His ex-partner poked Moran in the eye in an attempt to stop him assaulting her. Moran let go and as she tried to grab the baby, Moran lost his grip, and the baby fell, being caught by the neck. While the baby was in the position, Moran continued his reign of terror, by grabbing his ex-partner by the hair and swinging her around the room, ignoring the pleas of the ex-partner and the friend to let the baby go. The swinging resulted in all three falling to the ground, and the friend was able to take the baby.

Neighbours had heard the commotion and entered the property, restrained Moran and took him into the kitchen, while another neighbour took the baby to safety. Despite the neighbours’ attempts to restrain Moran, he continued to assault his ex-partner, grabbing a knife and attempting to stab her, in addition to causing damage in the kitchen.

When officers arrived at 10.30pm, Moran was in the front garden with empty glasses in his hand, threatening to throw them at officers. Officers were able to calm Moran and arrest him, however while in the police car he kicked the front passenger seat, causing damage.

Moran was charged with actual bodily harm and was sentenced to 20 months in prison and given a four-year restraining order against his ex-partner and child at Nottingham Crown Court on 3 August after pleading guilty to his actions at an earlier hearing.

Detective Constable Janet Percival, who works in the force’s public protection department, said: “This was a horrifying ordeal for our victim and it’s very fortunate that no one was seriously injured due to Moran’s behaviour.

“Our officers are always on hand to help anyone who is experiencing any sort of domestic violence and we are always here to protect.

“I am pleased with the result and hopefully with Moran behind bars he will be able to reflect his actions and the victims can move on knowing her cannot contact them for the next four years.”

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