‘Immature’ teenager admits punching ‘petrified’ girlfriend

Lewis Rogan (19), of Symonds Avenue, Rawmarsh, grabbed his former girlfriend round the neck and told her he would have killed her if he had the chance.

Mr Neil Coxon, prosecuting, told Sheffield Crown Court on December 13 that during the heated argument, Rogan’s ex-girlfriend pushed his head against the corner of a door. 

Rogan admitted grabbing the 17-year-old girl by the neck during the assault on August 18 and accepted it was not reasonable force. 

The following day, during another argument, the complainant threw a Playstation control pad across the room and hit Rogan with a juice carton.

“He accepts pinning her down with his knees and holding a lit cigarette near her face,” said Mr Coxon.

“He punched her twice to the face, while he was holding a phone.

“He accepts grabbing her round the neck and squeezing it.”

Mr Coxon said Rogan had told his girlfriend: “If I had the chance I would have killed you.”

The prosecutor added: “He said this was a conditional threat and he did not want this threat to be carried out.”

Rogan, who has no previous convictions, had been in a relationship with the girl earlier in the year and they had reconciled shortly before the assault.

He admitted assault and actual bodily harm at an earlier hearing.

The victim said in a statement read to the court that she was now petrified of Rogan and the assault had scared and shocked her.

Ms Lucy Hogarth, mitigating, said Rogan was immature and not used to living independently.

Sentencing him, Judge Graham Reeds said: “What I have read about you suggests to me you are immature for your age and you are not ready for a relationship with another person living together.

“I know the injuries are not of the most serious nature and the likelihood of this happening again is low.

“Such offences committed in a domestic or family setting are to be treated more seriously.”

Judge Reeds said Rogan would benefit from a programme designed to build up respect in relationships. He sentenced him to a two-year community order, 225 hours of unpaid work and a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.