Hodthorpe dad attacked former partner

Lorna Dodman, who has a child from a nine-month relationship with Darrel Glassey, told police he became angry on 10th August over an issue with her using Facebook.

He grabbed her phone and threw it to the ground, smashing it. Six days later, he gained entry to her home through an insecure window and ‘asked about her cheating on him,’ Sarah Haslam, prosecuting, told Chesterfield magistrates.

Ms Dodman stated that his eyes were bulging like he had been taking drugs and he threatened that his older sister would break her legs. She was crying but he would not leave.

“He said if he saw her with anyone else he would smash their heads together and he punched her on the nose.”

“He said she was crying crocodile tears. He pushed his fingers into her eyes and shoved her against a wall and squeezed her throat for about seven seconds,” said Mrs Haslam.

Ms Dodman fled to a neighbour’s home for help. “She says she lives in constant fear of him. He lives on the next street with his parents,” added Mrs Haslam.

Glassey, 30, of King Street, Hodthorpe, admitted charges of damage and assault at Hodthorpe. He had a previous conviction for possessing drugs.

“It was a prolonged and frightening attack. You acted like a bully and there are sinister elements of control and jealousy here,” Deputy District Judge Hirst told him.

She imposed a one-year probation supervision order, including a six-month drug rehabilitation programme, and a three-year restraining order, with £85 costs.

The order prohibits Glassey from contacting Ms Dodman or going within 50 metres of her home.

“He accepts punching her and grabbing the top of her chest. He has anger management problems that need to be addressed but no previous convictions for violence,” said Julian Hammond, for Glassey.

“The relationship has been on and off. There were arguments about who else she was seeing. He accepts the relationship is over.”

“She has been to his mother’s address since this incident which may put her protestations of fear into some context.”

Mr Hammond said Glassey, unemployed, had two children from another relationship.