Bradford man sentenced for stamping on partner's head

John Wilkinson, 33, of Canterbury Avenue pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) without intent and possessing a bladed article in a public place on Wednesday.

He was sentenced to 30 months in prison at Bradford Crown Court on Thursday for the first offence, with 12 months for the second charge, to run concurrently.

Wilkinson repeatedly punched his partner in the face, making her bleed from the nose and mouth, in their bedroom and also stamped on her head seven times, leading to her to bleed from her ears, in a prolonged attack, the court heard.

This was all in front of a babysitter who screamed to remind Wilkinson that the couple’s two children were sleeping in a room nearby, in a bid to halt the vicious assault.

John Wilkinson, 33, of Canterbury Avenue (Image: West Yorkshire Police)

Her attempt failed though, as the 33-year-old then chased his partner outside the house in his boxers with a knife.

The couple had been out drinking when they returned to their home on October 9 last year.

Mr Anthony Moor, for the prosecution, said a babysitter had been looking after their two children when she heard Wilkinson’s partner downstairs and thought she was on her own.

But the babysitter – the main witness in the case - then heard Wilkinson shout a name and saw him repeatedly punching his partner in the face while on their bed.

She was bleeding from her nose and mouth, at this point.

The babysitter had a phone in her hand and said she was going to call the police, at which point she said Wilkinson smashed the device from her hand.

He then returned to punching his partner again, before the babysitter pushed him and he fell down at the side of the bed.

Wilkinson ragged the babysitter off him, put her in a headlock and threw her into the wardrobe.

He then moved his partner onto the floor and stamped on her head seven times.

The babysitter said he did this with such force that her “eyes nearly came out her head, like a golf ball”.

She was screaming at Wilkinson to stop, reminding him his children were in bed nearby.

The court heard Wilkinson then said he “might as well make it a good beating as he was going to jail”.

His partner at this point was bleeding from her ears and Wilkinson started crying, but had a knife – between six and eight inches in length - in his hand.

The babysitter was not sure where it had come from.

His Honour Judge Burn said Wilkinson then chased his partner into the street.

Wilkinson was in his boxers and carrying the knife, before police arrived and he jumped over a fence and ran off.

CCTV of the ordeal, described in court, is said to have captured the sound of thumps and when Wilkinson is told to calm down inside the house."

The court heard he responded with an expletive and said: "You’re going to die now love.”

Wilkinson later returned and was arrested.

In interview he claimed he was the victim of a vicious attack.

The judge said: “This was an extremely serious assault on your partner on October 9, 2022 followed up with you chasing her out into the street with a knife in your hand, of some length.”

He added that Wilkinson had then issued a threat to kill her or others.

Wilkinson has previous convictions for violence and battery.

Abdul Latif Shakoor, for the defence, said there was evidence that when Wilkinson ran out into the street there was an altercation between him and the victim’s brother and mum, who had also come outside.

In mitigation, Mr Shakoor said Wilkinson has taken a course in prison about reducing violence and is trying to get help for his violent behaviour.

Wilkinson’s partner also took their two children to see him in prison last week and he is keen to be a positive role model to them moving forward.      

Mr Shakoor added that Wilkinson served in the army and has suffered from PTSD.

Judge Burn said the relationship was violent and this was an example of domestic abuse in the family home.