A DISABLED man has been spared an immediate jail sentence after beating his then partner with a vacuum tube and a broom handle.

Wayne Bailey persisted in the attack throughout three rooms, punching the woman in the face and smashing her phone, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

Bailey, 51, of Priestley Terrace, Wibsey, Bradford, pleaded guilty to causing her actual bodily harm on January 18 last year. He maintained his denial until the date of his trial this April.

Bailey was sentenced by a judge at the crown court on a video link to Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court where he attended late because his wheelchair had been stolen the previous day from outside his flat.

His case was heard at the lower court because it was thought to have better facilities for defendants in wheelchairs. He made a big effort to attend after losing his wheelchair, borrowing another one to ensure that he made it for the hearing.

Prosecutor John Hobley said that the day before the offence, Bailey had become intoxicated, fallen and hit his head. He was treated in hospital and when he arrived home at 6am he accused the woman of stealing money from him, which she strongly denied.

He struck her with a metal vacuum cleaner tube, punched her on the nose and mouth, smashed her phone and hit her with a broom handle. She fled the address and was treated in hospital for a black eye, injuries to her nose and lip, red marks to her body and a laceration on her hand, inflicted when she defended herself from the assault with the broom handle.

Bailey had 33 convictions for 63 offences, including a Section 18 wounding in 1988, actual bodily harm, common assault and battery.

Paul Canfield said in mitigation that Bailey was disabled and had many health problems, including COPD that meant he used four inhalers.

He had waited a long time for his specialist accommodation and would lose that if he went to prison.

He had banged his head the day before committing the offence and may have been suffering from concussion afterwards.

Recorder Gavin Doig said that Bailey had kept out of trouble since except for two minor shoplifting offences. He should ‘be thoroughly ashamed of himself’ for the attack but he was assessed as being at a low risk of reoffending.

He was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with up to 30 rehabilitation activity days.