Great Park dad pulled out knife during assault on girlfriend while child was present
James Sebastenelli grabbed the victim by her wrist, pushed her over and pinned her to the floor before punching a mirror when their daughter began to cry
by Sara Nichol · ChronicleLiveA drunk dad pulled out a knife during a "terrible" assault on his girlfriend while his child was present.
James Sebastenelli grabbed the victim by her wrist, pushed her over and pinned her to the floor before punching a mirror when their daughter began to cry, a court heard. The 25-year-old then produced a knife, although he didn't use or threaten to use it, which prompted the terrified woman to flee.
The dad, of Swallowtail Place, in Great Park, Newcastle, has now been given an 18-month community order, with 80 hours of unpaid work, after he pleaded guilty to assault by beating and criminal damage. Sentencing him at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, District Judge Kate Meek said: "This is a terrible offence.
"It was a prolonged incident - it goes on over a period of time and stopped and started several times. It's terrible because all abuse and violence is terrible but particularly because it was so prolonged and your child was present.
"It was in a domestic context and is made more serious at one stage when you produced a knife. The very taking hold of it in that context would have had added an additional level of fear. It's made more serious because you were under the influence of alcohol."
The court heard that the victim had gone to Sebastenelli's home on April 19 this year and an argument erupted as she was angry he'd been drinking while caring for their daughter. Claire Armstrong, prosecuting, said: "The defendant pushed her, which caused her to stumble backwards and he knocked the glasses from her face.
"The complainant left the bedroom to go downstairs. The defendant followed her, grabbing her by the wrist and causing bruising. She fled upstairs and he took her to the floor and pinned her to the floor and took her mobile phone from her.
"This woke their daughter up. The complainant tried to soothe her but the defendant became angry when their daughter began to cry and punched a mirror causing it to break."
The court was told that Sebastenelli, who has no past convictions, then produced a knife, prompting the victim to flee. Representing himself, Sebastenelli said: "It was a one-off.
"I pleaded guilty to what's happened. I'm sorry about it. I was very intoxicated and had a lot going on in my head. I lost it that day. It's not me at all."
The court heard that Sebastenelli and the victim were now back together.
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