Swindon dad assaulted ex-partner and her mum in 'rage'

Craig Townsend, of Lulworth Road in Swindon, appeared in Swindon Magistrates' Court on July 23 and pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by beating and one count of breaching a non-molestation order.

Prosecutor Adam Cooper told the court: "On June 9, Townsend went over to his former partner's property because he wanted to take his son. There was an argument and she refused to let him in the house.

"He stood in the garden, picked up a wooden chair and threatened to throw it at the window.

"He kept saying - I'm going to do something I regret."

When his former partner refused to let him in the house, Townsend pushed past the victim and her mother, who stood between Townsend and his child.

"He pushed towards her and grabbed hold of her arm causing bruising," added Mr Cooper.

“He told the woman to give him his son before something happened. According to the partner's mother, he looked possessed with rage."

Craig Townsend has 27 previous convictions and 48 offences dating as far back as 2001 (Image: Newsquest) Despite going to the family court to get a non-molestation order shortly after the assault, the victim claims that within a month she had received multiple messages from Townsend which abusive in nature and unrelated to the parenting of their child.

But according to Townsend's defence lawyer, Gordon Hotson, that was only one side of the story.

“The statements from the complainant make no mention of the fact that she has been making contact with Mr Townsend encouraging him to have contact with her and suggesting that their relationship could be rekindled," said Mr Hotson.

"She then changed her position and that's what triggered the abusive messages.

Craig Townsend appeared at Swindon Magistrate's Court (Image: Newsquest)

"The incident on June 12 comes after she had arranged for Townsend to pick up their son and then changed her mind.

“Over time there have been mixed messages from the complainant."

Townsend has 27 previous convictions for 48 offences dating as far back as 2001, and he was jailed in 2018 for breaching a restraining order on a number of occasions.

Chair of the magistrates' bench Peter Searle told the court that there was inconclusive information to sentence Townsend for his crimes on July 23 and the court would need to reconvene at a later date.

Townsend has now been remanded on conditional bail until the next hearing at Swindon Magistrates' Court on September 2.