Man guilty of domestic abuse after cutting girlfriend’s phone line in Dagenham
The seven-year-old's father pleaded guilty - Credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images
A judge told a man his behaviour amounted to domestic abuse after he drunkenly cut a phone cord to stop his girlfriend calling the police.
Michael Clarke, 33, pleaded guilty to destroying a telephone in Maplestead Road, Dagenham, and was given a conditional discharge and £100 court costs to pay.
Barkingside magistrates heard how Clarke, of Liverpool Road, Canning Town, and his girlfriend Kelly Phillips had been arguing on July 26, and she had threatened to call the police when he refused to leave.
Defending, Jokita Kukadia said: “The argument had started over something small and escalated the following morning when they were still intoxicated.
“It was criminal damage to the phone but there were no other issues with either party and he has never had any issues with drink or drugs in the past.”
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Clarke, who has three children of his own, has been with Ms Phillips for three years, the court heard today.
District judge Gary Lucie handed him a conditional discharge, explaining he must stay out for trouble for the next two years.
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He added: “The reality is this is domestic abuse.
“You may not see it like that, but that’s what it is if you prevented your partner from calling the police.
“It is low level, though, so I’m prepared to deal with it by way of a conditional discharge.”
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