A DETECTIVE has urged domestic violence victims to come forward after a man was jailed for banging a woman’s head on the floor in an “appalling assault”.

Michael James Saunderson, 38, was angry after fellow employees had confronted him at a works barbecue over his behaviour towards the woman, York Crown Court heard.

“This was an appalling assault on a woman in her own home,” said Judge Andrew Stubbs QC as he jailed Saunderson for nine months.

He also made a 10-year restraining order banning him from contacting her or her family in any way, going to her home street in Sherburn and from going to her place of work.

Saunderson, of Hungate, Brompton by Sawdon, pleaded guilty to causing the woman actual bodily harm. The judge commended Det Con David Adams, of North Yorkshire Police, for his work in the case.

After the hearing, Det Con Adams said: “The victim in this case was very brave and spoke out. I’d like to thank her for her bravery and hope this case encourages other victims of domestic abuse to come forward and contact the police. You do have a voice, so please speak out – police will be there to listen and to help you.

“I welcome the sentence passed against Saunderson. Despite showing no remorse throughout the investigation, he knew all along that he was culpable of a crime and that his behaviour that evening was nothing else but criminal.”

“There was no other reason that he went to the address of the victim that night, other than to carry out a seriously violent and targeted attack on her in her own home, with her son present.

“This incident will stay with them both and their wider family for the rest of their lives and they will never forget what happened, but I hope that they can move on from this horrific incident and hopefully be happier in their lives, knowing that Saunderson will not be able to come anywhere near them.”

Prosecuting in the case, Patricia Doherty said Saunderson and the woman worked at the same place and had been friends for seven years.

But at 11pm on July 19, he went to her house. In the tussle that followed, she fell to the floor, he grabbed her hair and then banged her head on the floor, causing a cut that bled profusely.

In a victim personal statement, the woman said it was a terrifying experience for her and her son, who was also in the house at the time. During the attack Saunderson was looking through her as if he didn’t see her.

For Saunderson, Glenn Parsons said the couple had both been at a works barbecue that evening. After the woman left, other employees confronted him about his relationship with the woman and his requests for “money to be repaid”.

“He has gone round (to her house) in high dudgeon,” said Mr Parsons. “As soon as she made it clear he should leave, he should have left. He lost his temper.”

The attack was out of character. Saunderson had never been in trouble before and his remand in custody after the attack had been his first taste of jail.