Bedroom attacker poured bleach on partner

Ashley Carlin (36), of Regent Street, Kimberworth, pleaded guilty to assault, which occurred in January last year, and battery committed 12 months earlier. Both offences were against his former partner, Claire Roddis.

He was given a two-year community order at Sheffield Crown Court last Wednesday.

Prosecuting, Ms Amy Earnshaw said Carlin had been in a relationship with Ms Roddis for two years.

“After the birth of their daughter the relationship took a turn for the worse,” said Ms Earnshaw.

The couple had been sleeping separately but, on the day of the first attack, Carlin wanted to sleep in Ms Roddis’ bedroom.

“When she refused, he became aggressive, pulled off the bedcovers, took a glass of water off the bedside table and threw it in her face,” Ms Earnshaw said.

Carlin then head-butted Ms Roddis and threatened to kill himself.

Her 11-year-old daughter witnessed the aftermath of the incident, added the prosecutor.

“The defendant begged the complainant to give the relationship another go and she agreed,” she said.

A year later, Carlin attacked Ms Roddis after trying to get into bed with her again.

“She said: ‘No, you’re not’, and then felt something being poured on her face and felt immediate pain,” said Ms Earnshaw.

Carlin had poured a diluted bleach solution from a container which was beside the bed onto Ms Roddis’ face, said Ms Earnshaw.

“He was on top of her so she couldn’t move.”

Carlin punched her and then, as she fled the room, pushed her which caused her to stumble down the stairs.

He punched her again in the face, which left her with cuts and in pain.

The court heard Ms Roddis did not suffer any injury from the bleach solution and no information was given in court about the product.

At the time of one of the assaults, the defendant was also subject to a suspended sentence imposed in 2015 for possession of drugs and a bladed article, the court heard.

Mitigating, Mr Chris Aspinall said Carlin was remorseful and admitted he had been “unpleasant” in the past.

Carlin was undergoing treatment to try and become the “loving, compassionate person he once was”, he added.

Carlin was also ordered to complete a 40-day rehabilitation programme and handed a two-year restraining order.

Judge Graham Reeds said: “You appear to be trying to put all of this behind you and reform yourself.”

He commended Carlin for staying out of trouble since the last attack.