A Swindon dad with 27 convictions under his belt assaulted his former partner and her mum in front of his child.
Craig Townsend, of Lulworth Road in Swindon, entered a guilty plea to two charges of assault by beating and one charge of violating a non-molestation order when he appeared in Swindon Magistrates’ Court on July 23.
“On June 9, Townsend went over to his former partner’s property because he wanted to take his son,” prosecutor Adam Cooper stated in court. She wouldn’t let him into the house after they got into a fight.
“He grabbed a wooden chair from the garden and made a threat to throw it through the window.
“He kept saying – I’m going to do something I regret.”
Townsend shoved past the victim and her mother, who stood in the way of Townsend and his child, after his ex-partner wouldn’t let him inside the house.
“He pushed towards her and grabbed hold of her arm causing bruising,” said Cooper.
“He instructed the mother to give him his son in order to prevent an incident. The partner’s mother claimed that he appeared to be overtaken by wrath.”
After the attack, the victim went to the family court to acquire a non-molestation order, but she alleges that a month later, she received several unpleasant messages from Townsend that had nothing to do with raising their child.
However, there was only one side of the tale, according to Townsend’s defence attorney, Gordon Hotson.
Mr. Hotson stated, “The complainant’s statements do not address the fact that she has been reaching out to Mr. Townsend, encouraging him to get in touch with her and suggesting that their relationship could be revived.”
“After that, she shifted positions, which set off the offensive messages.
She had made plans for Townsend to pick up their son, but she later changed her mind, which is when the incident on June 12 occurred.
“The complainant has sent conflicting messages over time.”
Townsend was imprisoned in 2018 for repeatedly violating a restraining order. He had 27 prior convictions for 48 offences dating back to 2001.
On July 23, Peter Searle, the chair of the magistrates’ bench, informed the court that more proceedings would be required as there was insufficient evidence to convict Townsend of his crimes.
As of right now, Townsend is being held under conditional bail before his next appearance in Swindon Magistrates’ Court on September 2.
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