Thug jailed after he broke partner's jaw with single kick to the face
The woman was forced to undergo surgery
A man who kicked his partner to the face, fracturing her jaw in two places, has been jailed after reports found him to be a danger to others.
Jay Berkeley lashed out at the woman during an argument at home, causing severe injuries.
The 24-year-old was initially charged with Section 18 GBH with intent, which he denied.
He then pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of Section 20 GBH without intent, which was accepted by the Crown.
Leeds Crown Court heard that Berkeley and the woman had been in an “on/off relationship” since they were children, and there had been no issues.
On October 14, 2022, they got into an escalating domestic argument at their home in Horsforth, resulting in Berkeley saying he “was done” and he began to pack his bags.
The woman caught him on the arm with a hairbrush as she was waving it around and he warned her: “Do not hit me.”
But he then took hold of her arms and kicked her to the face, causing to her “blank out”, prosecutor Bashir Ahmed said.
She later said she felt like she had been “hit by a rock”.
Bleeding, Berkeley apologised and called for an ambulance when she asked him.
She was found to have two fractures to her jaw which required surgery, she lost a tooth and several others were loose.
She needed to have wires inserted and to wear a retainer.
Berkeley, of no fixed address, was arrested and interviewed where he gave no comments.
Mitigating, Michael Walsh said Berkeley has no previous convictions and pleaded guilty to the alternative charge at the earliest opportunity.
He said he fully accepted responsibility, and was confident it was a “one-off” incident.
But the judge, Recorder Simon Ward, said there was still concern from probation about Berkeley, that he “remains a risk of serious harm to others”.
As a result, he jailed him for two years and four months.
He was also given a five-year restraining order to keep him away from his former partner.