Court orders Bodfari man not to approach his ex-partner

The ruling follows an incident at the home of Alison Plumer who was found distressed and bleeding from a gash to the face.

James Howard Balmer, 33, admitted assaulting Miss Plummer at her home in Wellington Road, Broughton, on June 6. His basis of plea – that her injuries had been caused when he kicked the door open and that it hit her in the face – was not accepted by the prosecution, but Flintshire Magistrates Court was told it would make no difference to his sentence.

Balmer, now living at Ty Bedw, Mold Road, Bodfari, received a six month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. The former forestry worker was sent on an integrated domestic violence course, was placed on supervision and was placed on a six month curfew to stay indoors between 9pm and 7am. He was ordered to pay £100 compensation in addition to the restraining order not to approach her.

Police received a call from a concerned neighbour who heard smashing noises coming from the house and he saw a couple “fighting and arguing in the street”.
A further 999 call was made by a witness who said he had seen a man throw a woman through the front door of a house on two separate occasions.

Police arrived to find Miss Plummer resting her head on her knees, bleeding from a gash near her right eye. She was incoherent, smelt of alcohol and was distressed.

Officers asked what had happened but she found it difficult to speak. She did not respond to questions and a friend was called who accompanied her to hospital.

Interviewed, Balmer said the injury was caused outside as she went to close the door and he put his foot out. He said that the door rebounded and hit her head causing the cut close to the eye.

Phillip Marshall-Thomas, defending, said that the victim would not remember what had happened because of intoxication.

Balmer denied assaulting her in any other way.

It had been a volatile relationship and he suggested that it was “six of one and half a dozen of the other”.