11:10pm Friday 29th August 2008
By Chris Wilkin
A crack cocaine addict who beat up his girlfriend was branded a “deeply dispiriting individual” who showed no remorse for what he had done.
Robert Baker, 32, attacked Emma Cobb at her home in High Woods, Colchester.
A court heard he pushed her over, banging her head, and then hit her in the throat.
Miss Cobb suffered a cut wrist and bump to the head during the scuffle, said Frank O’Toole, prosecuting.
Baker, of Palfrey Heights, Brantham, admitted the June 5 assault. He had also breached his bail by contacting her later.
But he denied grabbing Miss Cobb by the throat.
David Davies, mitigating, said Baker had only pushed his victim on to a sofa.
He claimed she had come at him with a knife.
A report said Baker had a crack cocaine problem and had shown no sorrow for what he had done.
District Judge David Cooper told him: “You are a deeply dispiriting individual with very limited insight into what you have done. There is clearly no remorse.”
Baker was given a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, at Colchester Magistrates’ Court.
He must also go on drink and drug rehab courses and was ordered not to contact his victim or go near her home.
The judge said he wasn’t awarding compensation to Miss Cobb.
“She doesn’t want your money – she just wants you to stay away,” he told Baker.
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