Sheffield thug who twice breached restraining order and assaulted ex-partner jailed

Sheffield Crown Court heard on July 5 how Ben Allen, aged 27, of Eastern Avenue, Sheffield, had been given a restraining order in February, 2019, but he contacted and assaulted his ex-partner in April and May, this year.

Laura Marshall, prosecuting, said in April Allen phoned the complainant and visited her home at Arbourthorne, Sheffield, before he pushed her and elbowed her in the face.

Allen phoned her in May, according to Ms Marshall, and visited her home twice and on the second occasion he entered the property and assaulted her.

Ms Marshall said: “He pushed her down on the settee with the weight of his knee and body and he grabbed her face and shouted he would snap her neck.”

The complainant got free, according to Ms Marshall, but Allen struck her with a plastic truncheon and threw a trainer at her before she fled to a neighbour’s home for help.

Ms Marshall added the following day, the complainant also received a further phone call from Allen asking why she had sent the police to his home.

Allen, who has previous convictions including offences against his ex-partner, pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching the restraining order and two counts of assault.

Ed Moss, defending, said the issue revolved around child access but Allen acknowledges he needs to grow up and that he has been going about things the wrong way.

Judge Sarah Wright sentenced Allen to 12-months of custody and imposed a ten-year restraining order.