AN NHS carer threw a dog across a room in part of a vicious assault on the father of her child.
Melanie Burnett, 34, appeared at Warrington Magistrate’s Court last Friday, November 3, to be sentenced for assault by beating, actual bodily harm, and causing suffering to a protected animal.
Burnett, of Stephenson Road in Newton-Le-Willows, attacked her partner at the time on two different occasions, throwing his dog across a room.
Prosecutor Stephanie Fanello told the court how, on April 20 of this year, the Newton-le-Willows NHS worker’s partner was shaken awake at night.
Due to a dispute between the pair, Burnett then hit him – but did not cause any injuries.
Just under a month later, on May 13, the NHS carer got into another dispute with her then-partner.
Ms Fanello described how, suddenly, Burnett picked up the complainant’s dog, and threw it across the room – causing it to limp.
She then proceeded to jump on the complainant’s back, biting him on the back and head.
His father came to pick him up, and noticing injuries, contacted the police.
Ms Fanello did concede however that the next day the pair took the dog for a walk, and did not notice any injuries or limping.
Defending Burnett, Ian Weights told the court how, despite alcohol being involved in both incidents, it was not a significant problem.
The Newton-le-Willows woman had faced a family tragedy early this year and had taken to drinking on occasions to cope with this.
Mr Weights also pointed to glowing recommendations of Burnett’s character, including that of the father of her other child.
Burnett has one child, a three-year-old, with the complainant, and received a recommendation from the father of her 11-year-old child.
Mr Weights said that, due to the alcohol involved, the NHS carer could not remember the incident in May the day after.
In quoting the probation service’s report – he said that the relationship was "unhealthy" and "toxic", and that she was in a more stable domestic situation now she was out of it.
He also conceded that she would likely lose her job as an NHS carer due to proceedings.
Head Magistrate, Mr R Bower, proceeded to sentence Burnett to a 12-month community order.
She will also attend 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and is required to receive alcohol monitoring for 90 days, down from 120 due to her prompt guilty pleas.
Burnett will also pay £334 in costs and fines and was given a restraining order against her former partner.
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