Judge declares war on wife beaters

Mar 1 2008 by Liz Keen, South Wales Echo

CARDIFF’S top judge has declared war on domestic violence.

Within an hour of officially being sworn in as the new Recorder of Cardiff yesterday, Nicholas Cooke QC was slamming a probation service report which declared a case of domestic violence as, “not a particularly serious kind of offence”.

“If a judge said that when a man had assaulted his partner there would be a public outcry,” Judge Cooke told Cardiff Crown Court where Steven Downs, 32, admitted perforating his partner’s ear drum.

“I actually regard this as a very serious offence and I am shocked to see this in a probation report.

“There is no question of anyone in this court – myself or my colleagues – ever regarding domestic violence as not particularly serious.

“That is not the way we view it and the public can be assured of that.”

The judge refused to sentence Downs, of Ferrier Avenue, Fairwater, Cardiff, until a new report has been prepared by a different officer.

“Either this officer didn’t read all the papers or her view is so skewed that I cannot accept it.

“I do not wish to see such a mis-description ever again.

“I have never said such a thing before but I am afraid I find this report of no assistance to me. I normally have a lot of faith in the probation service.”

The Recorder – the most senior judge at Cardiff Crown Court – said his work as a barrister and QC had given him a wide knowledge of the effect that violence in the home has on children. The second report should address that matter.

Turning to Downs, who admits causing actual bodily harm, he said: “You will have gathered I take a very dim view of this – the effects on children can be disastrous.

“They can grow up thinking it’s the norm for men to hit women. I will do all in my power to stop it happening.”

Granting bail for three weeks, he warned Downs: “Be under no illusion, if you commit another offence meanwhile I will make it my business to see you go to prison.”

In a second case where Anthony Knight, 44, of Park View, Llanharan, was said to have kicked his partner in the face and punched her he adjourned sentence because Knight had sent the woman text messages apologising, after being bailed and warned not to contact her.

Prosecutor Andrew Joseph said the victim had fallen to the floor with blood pouring from her nose.

Knight admits assault but says he only punched, not kicked, her.

liz.keen@mediawales.co.uk

Violence in home not acceptable - page 2