Social worker attacked by boyfriend slams sentence as he walks free

Social worker, 23, who suffered fractured jaw and broken nose in horrific ‘out of the blue’ attack by boyfriend slams ‘laughable’ sentence as he walks free from court with a suspended jail term

• Robyn Howard was left bloodied and battered by her ex-boyfriend of six months  
• He flew into a violent rage after a night out together celebrating Robyn’s new job
• She managed to escape to the safety of her brother’s house just as police arrived
• Her attacker was given a 24-week sentence but it was suspended for two years 

A social worker who was left with a fractured jaw and broken nose in a horrific ‘out of the blue’ attack by her boyfriend has slammed his sentencing after he walked free.  

Robyn Howard, 23, from Winstanley, Wigan, was left bloodied and battered by her ex-boyfriend, 30, of six months who flew into a violent rage after a night out celebrating her new job. 

She had just locked up and was heading upstairs to bed when he repeatedly punched and kicked her in the head and body.  

Robyn tried to escape and screamed for help and eventually managed to get outside and to the safety of her brother’s house just as the police arrived.

Robyn Howard (pictured moments after the attack), 23, from Winstanley, Wigan, was left bloodied and battered by her ex-boyfriend, 30, of six months, who flew into a violent rage after a night out celebrating her new job

Robyn tried to escape and screamed for help and eventually managed to get outside and to the safety of her brother’s house just as the police arrived

Pictured: Robyn on the night of the attack before it happened, on a night out with her now ex boyfriend

Worried neighbours called 999 after hearing her screams during the attack at the hands of her ex, who she does not want to name.

Robyn was taken to hospital by ambulance following the assault on June 3 this year, where she was told that she had suffered a fractured jaw and broken nose.

On July 11, her attacker pleaded guilty to causing her actual bodily harm and magistrates in Manchester sentenced him to 24-week custody, suspended for two years.

He was also give a two-year restraining order, which prevents any contact with Robyn, ordered to pay £250 compensation and complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

Robyn added: ‘The sentence was laughable really, considering what he did to me, especially the compensation.

‘But at least now he will have a criminal record that any future partners could check up on.

Worried neighbours called 999 after hearing her screams during the attack at the hands of her ex, who she does not want to name. Pictured: Robyn now, fundraising for domestic violence charities

‘But he has now proved himself to be very dangerous and other women who come into his orbit need the opportunity to know that.’

Since the attack, Robyn said she has found it hard to trust men, adding: ‘I had my guard up anyway and that’s really just secured it.’

Robyn has teamed up with Wigan Borough Domestic Abuse Services to organise a fundraising event on October 15 at the DW Stadium in her hometown.

She hopes to raise money for Target Hardening, which helps improve security at homes of domestic abuse victims, and Refuge, which provides shelter to victims.

On July 11, her attacker pleaded guilty to causing her actual bodily harm and magistrates in Manchester sentenced him to 24-week custody, suspended for two years

Robyn said: ‘These organisations are desperately in need of extra funds. There is a lot of domestic violence but people hardly ever talk about it.

‘The victims need help during a time that is so isolating and difficult and awareness needs raising of just how widespread this type of crime is.’

And Robyn is also urging domestic violence victims to report their attacks so that if other women look up their partner’s criminal record under Clare’s Law they will be able to see if they have previous convictions. 

She said: ‘He had never even shown anger before during our six months together. The attack came completely out of the blue.

‘But that night he had had far too much to drink and had in fact been quite aggressive to some lads on the train home.

Robyn is also urging domestic violence victims to report their attacks so that if other women look up their partner’s criminal record under Clare’s Law they will be able to see if they have previous convictions

‘Whether he took some other substance later to make him do what he did, I don’t know.

‘It just shows what dangers can be lying dormant inside someone, especially if they have had too much to drink or had something else.

‘I am going public about this because if other women are concerned that partner has an abusive past, they can ask to check under Clare’s Law then they can make an informed decision about the future of their relationship.

‘It wouldn’t have been beneficial to me, because he had no known offences, but around 80 per cent don’t get reported so it’s so important that people report it.

‘I 100 per cent think he has previous history of this, just because of how quickly it happened.’

Tickets are for the fundraiser £25 each and include a hot meal, live music, a bingo card and a donation to charity.

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