A MAN who attacked a ‘vulnerable woman’ in ‘five minutes of madness’ has been jailed.

Christopher Pickles, 34, of Y Wern in Wrexham appeared at Mold Crown Court after beating his partner in September 2019.

The court heard how he pleaded guilty at the first opportunity at Mold Magistrates on February 24.

Ryan Rothwell, prosecuting, said that in the early hours of the morning on September 21, police officers were directed to an incident in Buckley town centre in which a woman had been taken to hospital.

CCTV footage, played in the courtroom, showed Pickles get out of his car and attack his then-partner, Holly Tomlinson.

Whilst on the floor he kicked her in the face three times before walking away. However after five or six steps he went back to deliver another kick to the head.

He was arrested an hour later and had an ‘open wound on his head’.

The court heard how the pair had been drinking in Buckley earlier but ended up having a row and Pickles decided to leave.

Judge Rhys Rowlands said: “As you were driving out of Buckley you got a call from her sister. The victim said something in the background, whether that’s true or not I don’t know.

“What is clear, as you told probation, you headed back to where she was in the car and what happened next is the reason you are before the court.”

The incident was described as ‘five minutes of madness’ as Pickles can be seen stopping his car and running straight towards the woman who he attacked before driving off.

Despite the woman not wanting to engage with police officers, she was taken to hospital with a number of lumps on her head and a swollen eye.

Judge Rowlands said the incident was aggravated due to the fact he had been drinking and the assault was ‘premeditated’ as he drove to her.

‘Repeated blows’ were struck which resulted in ‘unpleasant injuries’ and Pickles used his feet as a weapon ‘against a helpless individual on the ground’.

However, the judge took into consideration his early guilty plea and the point that Pickles has not been in trouble since 2013.

Judge Rowlands said the pair have two children together, whom he provides for, but past convictions have also involved violence.

He added: “The victim hasn’t supported the prosecution. Sadly, this isn’t uncommon for cases involving domestic violence.”

Judge Rowlands said he had taken into consideration the current coronavirus pandemic and the ‘fear of contracting Covid-19 whilst in custody’, but he added the offence was ‘far too serious’ for anything other than a custodial sentence.

Pickles was ordered to serve 20-months imprisonment.

Judge Rowlands added that although a hard worker, it is clear Pickles loses his temper after drinking and on that night he ‘lost any sense of self-control’.