Woman needs plastic surgery after domestic assault

The boyfriend of a young Halstead woman, who punched her so hard in the face that she needs plastic surgery was jailed for nine months today (July 27).

Robert Wilson, 22, of Notley Road, Braintree, was so angry that he punched holes in the walls of her living room before he pushed Emma Goldberg on to a bed, straddled her and hit her four times in the face.

One of her teeth punctured her lower lip causing a 5cm wound. It became infected and she has been left scarred, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Mark Lakin said Ms Goldberg now needs plastic surgery.

Wilson pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm on May 19, this year and to damaging property at the property in Evans Court, Halstead.

Judge Anthony Goldstaub QC branded Wilson, who has a previous conviction for assaulting Ms Goldberg, a “bully” and jailed him for nine months.

He also imposed a five-year restraining order banning Wilson from contacting his “on-off girlfriend” for five years.

“She’s entitled to some peace and respite from you,” said the judge.

He told Wilson: “You assaulted her in her home where she was entitled to feel safe, a place that should have been a place of sanctuary for her.

“Domestic violence is sometimes regarded as a minor matter. It is not, it is serious and involves the oppression of a vulnerable person by somebody stronger, who abuses his power over her.”

Mitigating, Gemma Lee said Wilson, who has been in prison on remand since his arrest on 21 May, was remorseful.

She said that Wilson used to live, first with his mother in Basildon and then his alcoholic father. He’d had to fend for himself since he was 16 in Braintree.

“His relationships, particularly with women, have been very difficult and volatile,” she said.