Halifax thug threw woman down the stairs after she made honest mistake

A Halifax thug threw a woman down the stairs after she accidentally smashed a picture of his niece. Bradford Crown Court heard on Monday that the woman had joined Luke Fitzgerald, 32, at his

home in Salterhebble Hull on July 31 last year. Prosecutor Ayman Khokar said that it was around 9am the next morning when Fitzgerald turned violent, following an innocent mistake by the

woman. He said: "The complainant accidentally knocked into a framed picture of the defendant's niece, causing it to smash, and this seemed to anger the defendant who then

explosively lost his temper. "To the best of the complainant's recollection, she recalls him grabbing her by the hair, taking her out of the bedroom and in some way he threw her

down the stairs leading to the ground floor. The complainant's evidence is that all she could recall was the defendant, in quick succession, stamping upon her but then she said she lost

consciousness and is unable to describe what happened thereafter." The court heard that the woman suffered a fractured eye socket, bruising to her eyes and knees, a bloody nose and

internal bleeding to parts of her brain. Fitzgerald was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, following an earlier trial. In a victim impact statement, Mr Khokar said the

woman has suffered both a physical and emotional impact from the attack. He said: "She thought she could trust him as a friend but because of his actions find it difficult to trust

other people. Physically, her bruises have gone, but mentally she cannot get over what happened to her." In the statement, the woman said: "The scar is a constant reminder of the

worst moments of my life. I have had mental health issues over the years but since the assault I won't go out. I don't know how I'm going to be able to get over this. I

can't put into words properly what the attack and the aftermath has done to me." The court was told that several months before, having been wanted by West Yorkshire Police for a

different matter, Fitzgerald handed himself in at the front desk of Halifax police station and was arrested and detained in custody. Mr Khokar said: "He was not put in handcuffs or

anything at that time as he was displaying a high level of compliance. At around 11.17pm, he got into a verbal exchange with a PC and suddenly started shouting, 'It's taking so

long.'" The court heard Fitzgerald went as if he was going to press the panic button, which, if pressed, would have wasted vital police resources, so was pushed back by the

officer. He said the officer was "under the impression he was under the influence of drink and drugs." It was said the officer "pushed him away" and Fitzgerald went back

and began to "thrash his arms" before PAVA spray was deployed, however he ten put another officer in a headlock. Mr Khokar said: "Another officer struck him to the head twice

and he was brought under control." Fitzgerald was interviewed and said he had become frustrated when another detainee referenced his deceased sister, and the officer assaulted him so he

acted in self defence." He went on to admit two counts of assaulting an emergency worker. The court heard he had 46 previous convictions for 76 offences, many of which took place when

he was a youth. However, since turning 18 he has served prison sentences for robbery and grievous bodily harm. Mitigating, John Bottomley, said: "He has, while he has been in custody,

become an enhanced prisoner and is a cleaner on his wing...He has kept out of trouble. He has a CSCS card, which enables him to work on building sites and he has a level one qualification in

maths and English. "He had a disrupted childhood, and has mental health problems and problems regulating his emotions. He has the support of his family and has a 14-year-old girl and

has limited contact with her under supervision." Her Honour Judge Watson made Fitzgerald the subject of an extended sentence made up of 10 years in custody and a three-year extended

licence period. She also made him the subject of a ten year restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim or attending at her address. GET BREAKING NEWS IN YORKSHIRE STRAIGHT

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