JOHN Williams, a 31-year-old resident of Matthews Ridge, appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, charged with assaulting the mother of his children to cause her actual bodily harm.

Williams was fined for the offence.
According to Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield, Williams and the woman, Joan Glasgow, shared a common-law union and they have four. On the day in question, Glasgow and the defendant had a misunderstanding, as a result of which, he dealt her several lashes with a cutlass across her body. The woman was said to have been holding her nine-month-old baby in her hand at the said time.

Subsequent to this incident, Williams returned on March 2, 2019 at their residence and again attacked the woman. A report was made to the police and he was later apprehended.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge with an explanation as to why he had committed the act. He told the court that the woman usually goes out and “sport” with other men, leaving his nine-month-old baby in the care of his 10-year-old daughter. On this occasion, he said, he became really frustrated which led to him lashing out, because he loves her but she keeps using him.

The woman was hospitalised and suffered from swelling of the head and several bruises.
The defendant was fined $15,000, with an alternative of three months imprisonment.