Love rival’s jaw broken by man with bag of beer

A DENABY man broke a love rival’s jaw when he hit him with a carrier bag full of cans of beer, a court heard.

Paul Mullins (36) broke court orders banning him from contacting his ex-girlfriend in the village.

When he saw her new boyfriend visiting her home, Mullins looked over the fence and began shouting and swearing, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

Mullins shouted “get out of that f***ing house” and, not wanting to cause any trouble, the man went to leave, said Miss Louise Gallagher, prosecuting.

“Mullins was carrying a plastic bag full of cans of beer,” she said. “The victim told him to get away but Mullins swung towards him and missed but the bag struck him on the jaw.”

The victim needed surgery to repair his jaw at Rotherham Hospital.

Miss Gallagher said Mullins, of Lime Tree Walk, Denaby, had been given non-molestation and restraining orders not to contact his 26-year-old ex-girlfriend, who we have chosen not to name for fear of reprisals.

The woman rang the police on the evening of February 22, shouted the words “Get off” and then hung up.

Because of her domestic problems, the police attended and she was upset and crying.

The couple had both been drinking and Mullins was arrested.

He told officers: “I know I shouldn’t be here.”

Mullins’ ex-girlfriend refused to provide a statement and told police she had invited Mullins to her home.

He said he knew of the two court orders and should not have gone there.

The court heard he was given the restraining order following an incident on October 5, 2014,  when emergency services were called.

Police found Mullins asleep on her sofa and the woman with swelling to her face.

She said Mullins had walked into her kitchen and they argued before he punched her and snapped her mobile phone in two.

Miss Gallagher said she ran to a neighbour’s house and Mullins locked her out of the house.

Mullins was convicted of battery and criminal damage over this incident.

He was also convicted of assault causing grievous bodily harm over the beer cans attack, which happened on January 24, 2014.

Miss Rachael Harrison, defending, said: “He went to punch him and missed and the bag he was carrying followed through and caused the injury.”

Mullins had not caused any trouble since last October and he did not know why his ex-girlfriend rang the police this February, Miss Harrison said.

He had fully complied with conditions attached to a six-month suspended jail term he received for the battery and criminal damage and had attended domestic violence and alcohol treatment courses.

He was due to begin a truck training course.

Mullins was a hard worker and had completed a court order of 180 hours of unpaid community work in record time, Miss Harrison said.

Recorder Paul Reid said Mullins was subject to five court orders when he offended.

Mullins admitted breaching his suspended sentence and the non-molestation and restraining orders.

He was given a community order with 80 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement.