By Harrison Galliven, Local Democracy Reporter
A part-time DJ who attacked his former partner twice in the space of a few hours during a drink-fuelled outburst near his home in Croydon has been made subject to a year-long restraining order.
Ryan Tutt, 44, now of Sweetwater Close, Guildford, also received a 12-month community order after the assaults left his ex bruised and shaken.
Croydon Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday how the violence unfolded over the course of a single evening on May 19 last year, while the former couple were watching a boxing match at Tutt’s then-home in Selsdon.
The evening started off as a casual night in with drinks, but quickly spiralled after the woman mentioned that her previous partner had helped her move into her current address. Tutt, under the influence at the time, became aggressive and began accusing her of seeing another man, the court heard.
Though the argument eventually died down and the two resumed watching the boxing, the calm did not last.
Later that night, the victim left the address, but Tutt tracked her down in his car, pulled up alongside her, and resumed the accusations. According to her statement, she initially thought Tutt was just being “silly” and didn’t take him seriously until he got out of the car, grabbed her bag while she was holding it, and shoved her to the ground.
She was left with a bruised chin. Tutt persuaded his then-girlfriend to return to his home for the night. But early the next morning, when she attempted to leave again, Tutt followed her by car and confronted her once more on nearby Addington Road. When she refused to get in his vehicle, he shouted at her and pushed her for a second time.
Concerned members of the public witnessed the outburst, prompting Tutt to flee. A bystander encouraged the distressed woman to call the police.
Tutt was charged with two counts of assault by beating. He initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea on the day of the trial. District Judge Nigel McLean criticised the delay, saying: “You chose to contest and forced the victim to come to court, exacerbating the stress she felt.”
In her victim personal statement, his ex-partner shared how the abuse extended beyond the night in question.
“I was always worried about him flying off the handle for no reason and was constantly walking on eggshells,” she said. “My personality changed when I was with him.
“He would start an argument and I didn’t know when it was going to happen. I found myself starting to blame and doubt myself. Whenever things happened with Ryan I never saw any remorse in him.”
Now out of the relationship, she expressed a sense of healing: “I feel like a different person, and I am a lot happier.”
In mitigation, Tutt’s solicitor Mr Floyd told the court that his client had made efforts to change his life. He said: “He does take the opportunity to apologise to [the victim] in this incident and throughout the course of their relationship,” adding that the relationship “should have stopped two years before it did”.
Mr Floyd described Tutt as “genuinely saddened by the way he behaved”, and confirmed that he has since stopped drinking and taking drugs.
Since then, he has relocated from Croydon to Guildford. In addition to his part-time work as an air conditioning engineer, Tutt set up a DJ school called MixMaster, which hosts annual competitions in which he is a regular judge.
Tutt was handed a 12-month community order, which requires him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation activity days, which District Judge McLean said would “address the deficit” in his thinking.
He must also pay a total of £1,528 to the court and is subject to a 12-month restraining order, barring him from any contact with the victim.
Pictured top: Croydon Magistrates Court heard how Tutt followed and harassed Ms Reeder twice over the course of an evening (Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga)
