A dad who assaulted his ex-partner for being late in front of their children left them “shocked and distressed”.

Aaron Howe, 31, “saw red” after his partner was an hour and a half late to hand over their kids to him for the week. He pleaded guilty to assault by beating at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on November 28.

Abbie Winters, prosecuting, said the attack was caught on CCTV on June 30, 2024, when Howe was waiting in a public place to collect the kids after the weekend.

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The partner was late and when she arrived, Howe shouted, “f***you, where the f*** have you been?”.

Winters said that this frightened the victim and he then pushed her in front of the children, who were “shocked and distressed”. One started crying and wanted to stay away from Howe.

Howe admitted in the police interview that he “saw red”, claiming to have undiagnosed anger issues that his partner knows how to aggravate. When he gets angry, Howe says he “blacks out”.

Caroline Dunne, Howe’s solicitor, said that he was aggravated because he needed to be on time for his job - which he then lost as a “direct consequence of being arrested”.

Howe, of 13 Melksham Close, Penhill, is now out of work, but his relationship with the children has recovered.

Howe received a £195 fine, with £85 costs and a £78 surcharge - a total of £358.

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