Jealous Whitwell man unleashed terrifying attack on partner after she 'hugged a colleague'

A Whitwell man who committed a brutal and terrifying assault on his partner pinning her down in his car and driving off with her legs hanging out of the vehicle has appeared before magistrates.
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Court news

Herman Griffith became angry after the victim was given a hug by somebody at work and then threatened to “ruin her”.

After putting his arm round her throat, leaving her struggling to breathe, the victim ended up in the foot well of his car with him slapping her face.

He then climbed on top of her, pinning her down and then shouted he was going to kill her, revving his engine and driving along the road while her legs were hanging out of the vehicle.

Griffith, 47, of Malthouse Road, Whitwell, pleaded not guilty to assaulting the victim by beating her during the incident at the victim’s home in Yeovil, Somerset on August 30 last year.

He also denied making to her a threat to kill her intending that she would fear that the threat would be carried out, but was convicted of both offences in his absence after he failed to turn up on the day of his trial.

He admitted failing to surrender to bail on January 7 when he was brought before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil in custody after being arrested by the police.

Christine Hart, prosecuting, said that the couple had been together for about eight months and were at home when they began to argue about an incident the night before where the complainant was given a hug by someone at her place of work.

“Griffith told her their relationship was over and that he was leaving and when he went upstairs began to be verbally abusive towards her saying he was going to ruin her,” she said.

“He left but returned with his car to collect his belongings and inside the house called her a fat b*tch and fat old cow.”

The victim helped him to bring his belongings down and was in the kitchen holding her phone when Griffith knocked it from her hand and then picked it up and was taunting her as she followed him outside.

“The defendant then grabbed her and spun her round and forced her on the car with his arm round her throat saying he was going to kill her as she was struggling to breathe,” said Miss Hart.

“She woke up in his foot well with him slapping her face and he grabbed her throat and climbed on top pinning her arms to her side which was seen by a witness.

“The complainant was still in the foot well with her legs hanging out and Griffith was shouting that he was going to kill her and revved his engine.

“Another witness came out and the victim was shouting for them to call the police and managed to get out of the vehicle after she was carried along in it for a short distance.”

The distressed victim then fell on the ground and when the police were called they arrived at the scene and the defendant was arrested.

Defending solicitor Chris Ivory said that Griffith had not attended the previous court hearing as he had been let down by a friend who had offered to give him a lift to the court in Yeovil and could not afford to pay for public transport.

The magistrates adjourned the case for a pre sentence report to be prepared by the Probation Service.

They agreed to remit the case for the sentencing hearing to take place at Chesterfield Magistrates Court nearer the defendant’s home address on June 8.

Until then he was released on conditional bail on the understanding he lives and sleeps at his home address and reports to Worksop police station twice a week.

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