Workington man jailed for drunken attack on partner

At Carlisle Crown Court, 32-year-old Kris Ritson, who has previous convictions for domestic violence on his criminal record, pleaded guilty to an offence of assault causing actual bodily harm on October 26 last year.

Jamie Baxter, prosecuting, outlined how the defendant attacked his then partner during a heated row. The victim was left with bruising to the face.

In her impact statement, the woman he attacked said: “I am scared of Kris because I am aware of what he is capable of. He’s told people he’ll kill me if he goes to jail. He has previously assaulted me.

“I feel that my life is on hold because I don’t know what he is going to do next.”

The woman also told police that she now wanted no further contact with Ritson, whose address was given as Station Road, Workington.

Anthony Parkinson, for Ritson, accepted that the defendant had an “unfortunate” background which included previous convictions for violence, including in a domestic context. The current offence consisted of two punches during the course of a heated argument, he said.

The barrister pointed out that the defendant had been in custody since December 3.

Noting that the defendant had suffered bruising to her head and body, Judge Nicholas Barker said he had his reservations about the basis of the defendant’s guilty plea, in which Ritson admitted delivering only two punches during the attack.

Of the victim, the judge said: “She had been staying at a friend’s house to feel safe and to keep away from you. There are other aggravating features: the fact that this was domestic violence and you were in drink; and you were in a relationship. You have a lengthy record of previous convictions for violence; and previous convictions of violence in domestic circumstances.”

Jailing Ritson, ­— on remand since December 3 - the judge noted his childhood difficulties, but said he had not as an adult addressed his violence and anger management.