Violent Elland man headbutted and punched partner knocking out one of her teeth

Bradford Crown Court heard today (Tuesday) how Joshua Nelson punched the vulnerable complainant in the eye last May after they had overslept.

Prosecutor Christopher Styles said a neighbour saw Nelson throw the woman to the floor outside her flat and made threats to burn all her clothes.

About three weeks later Nelson launched a more serious attack on his victim after making abusive comments about her.

In that attack Nelson headbutted her hard in the forehead and a judge described the lump which resulted as being “as large as a man’s fist”.

Mr Styles said the woman pleaded with Nelson not to hit her, but he then punched her at least five times snapping one of her front teeth.

After the assault Nelson told her:”Look at you now. Noone will want you now.”

The distressed complainant needed hospital treatment, but after he was arrested Nelson, of Oak Street, Elland, called her a liar and described the allegations as “total b*******”.

Nelson was remanded in custody last month after a senior judge expressed concerns about him interfering with witnesses and Mr Styles said Nelson had repeatedly contacted the complainant telling her not to attend court for his trial.

The prosecutor said inquiries indicated that Nelson had been involved in 20 other domestic call-outs involving the complainant and three other partners.

Nelson eventually admitted charges of common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm and jailing him today Judge Jonathan Rose said the first incident had been the precursor to the appalling assault in June.

“That resulted in you using the weapon of your forehead to headbutted this defenceless woman,” said the judge.