Crime
Man stubs cigarette out on partner’s hand in final twist to violent attack
A man repeatedly punched his partner in a jealous rage before putting out a cigarette on her hand, a court heard.
Christopher Betts, 27, launched the assault at a house in Chesterton, Cambridge, on 25 February last year after the victim received a Facebook message from a male friend.
He became abusive and accused her of cheating on him.
He then punched her more than 10 times in the face and grabbed her around the throat and pinned her to the floor, holding her there which such force that she passed out.
When she came round, Betts stood over her and shouted, “you’ve learnt your lesson now”.
Betts then went to the bathroom, so the victim called the police using his phone, as he had taken hers with him.
When he returned, he dragged her about the house and put his cigarette out on her hand.
Betts told her to write a letter to her daughter as, although she would go to bed, she would not be waking up again.
This left the victim terrified and scared she could die.
When police arrived, Betts played down the dispute and described it as “silly” but there were visible injuries to the victim.
On November 4 at Cambridge Crown Court, Betts, of Carlyle Road, Cambridge, was jailed for five years, having been found guilty of making threats to kill and causing actual bodily harm.
Christopher Betts, 27, launched the assault at a house in Chesterton, Cambridge, on 25 February last year
He received no separate penalty for a breach of a restraining order, which remains in place for an indefinite duration.
Detective Sergeant Elaine Penniket said: “Betts acted like a thug as he assaulted and threatened to kill his partner in this disgusting and disgraceful way.
“Domestic abuse is a force priority and I commend his victim for coming forward and supporting us with a prosecution.”
Advice and information about domestic abuse, including how to report it and support services, can be found on the force website.
