Man jailed as Bath judge resentences him for punching his partner

A 35-year-old man who breached a community order imposed after he punched his partner in front of their children has been sent to prison for 10 weeks.

District Judge Lynne Matthews, sitting at Bath Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 17th December, heard that Jack Cook, whose address was given as the Julian House shelter in Manvers Street, had failed without reasonable excuse to comply with the requirements of the community order made by Taunton Deane Magistrates’ Court on 6th September 2024.

He had missed some appointments and not complied with the requirements of his alcohol tag.

Defending Cook, solicitor Jennifer Stetson told the court heard that he has had alcohol-related problems all his life and both his parents were alcoholics.

He had recently suffered the trauma of a friend at Julian House dying; he had been in hospital for a week with sepsis in November and currently had pneumonia.

District Judge Matthews said Cook had been given a community order “generously” and that custody had been merited in the first place for the assault. One witness had described it as a “sustained attack” and the woman was left bleeding.

District Judge Matthews told Cook that when children see domestic violence, it is repeated down the line.

In her view, the community order was “beyond repair” due to his wilful and persistent non-compliance. She revoked it and resentenced Cook, imposing an immediate 10-week custodial sentence.

Cook wiped away tears as he was led from the dock by custody officers.