A drunken thug who broke his girlfriend’s jaw in two places with a powerful punch was jailed for 18 months.
Michael Critchlow, 29, hit Marie Irvine so hard during a row at their home in Bradley Road, Litherland that her jaw was broken on both sides of her face.
Liverpool Crown Court heard how Critchlow – who has a previous conviction for assaulting his mum – had spent the night drinking with a friend.
Mandy Nepal, prosecuting, said his partner woke up and went downstairs at around 7.45am on November 7 this year.
Her son had returned after working a night shift and wanted to go to bed, so Miss Irvine asked her boyfriend to stop making so much noise.
Miss Nepal said she told him “you should be at work” to which Critchlow replied: “f*** off”.
The defendant and his pal started arguing before Critchlow went upstairs and his partner followed him.
While in Miss Irvine’s bedroom, Critchlow stood up and punched her once to the face.
Exterior shot of Liverpool Crown Court in Derby Square
The court heard she went to the Royal Liverpool Hospital and needed an operation to insert metal plates to hold her jaw together. She also required seven stitches.
Miss Nepal said the mum was still suffering from numbness to her jaw but her condition was said to be improving.
Critchlow, with short black hair and wearing a black sweatshirt, appeared via video link from HMP Liverpool.
He pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Nicholas Archer, defending, said his client had pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity.
Judge David Aubrey, QC, said he was in no doubt that alcohol had played a role in the offence.
He said drinking might be an issue for Critchlow, but it was an aggravating feature as far as the seriousness of the crime was concerned.
Judge Aubrey said: “You punched your partner and caused her a serious injury. That serious injury resulted in fractures to both sides of her jaw.
“It was a single punch but undoubtedly it must have been a forceful punch.”
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/