Man who assaulted woman in Whitby spends Christmas Day in a police cell - and will see in new year in prison
A man who assaulted a woman in Whitby spent Christmas Day in a police cell – and will see in the New Year in prison after being sentenced at court.
Dale Blaney, 39, attacked a woman in her home in Whitby on December 23, striking her face, before waving a large kitchen knife around.
He then took her phone and snapped it in half, saying “you think you can mess with me?”, and threw her possessions around her house, before finally leaving in the early hours of Christmas Eve.
However, he later returned to the property, banging on the door and demanding to be let it.
The victim fled her home address to that of a friend, and North Yorkshire Police were called.
Blaney, from Manchester, was arrested, and charged with assault and criminal damage.
At York Magistrates’ Court on December 26, Blaney pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a total of 23 weeks’ imprisonment.
A two-year restraining order was also put in place, protecting the victim from Blaney beyond his imprisonment.
Blaney had already been serving an 18-week suspended sentence for a similar offence involving a different victim.
PC Matt Philpott, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “Blaney is a perpetrator of violence against women, who preys on the vulnerability of his victims, and clearly cares little for the people he hurts and the pain he inflicts.
“As a result of his actions, he was arrested on Christmas Eve, charged and remanded on Christmas Day, and imprisoned on Boxing Day.
"I hope the outcome reinforces the message that offending like this is completely unacceptable, and will be dealt with seriously and robustly by North Yorkshire Police.
“I would also like to praise the bravery of the victim, both in coming forward to us, and her continued support throughout the case.”