Bolton man attacked sleeping woman just as she woke up

Ainsley Boothe, 33, had been in an “on/off” relationship with the woman before demanding entry to a house in Bolton where she had been staying with a friend on January 2 this year.

Bolton Crown Court heard how he came into a bedroom at around 8am while the woman was asleep.

Emily Wilson, prosecuting, said: “Her first response on waking up and seeing the defendant was to say ‘don’t hit me.’”

She added: “The crown would say that’s a sad indictment of their relationship.”

The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Phil Taylor)

Boothe listed from the dock as Ms Wilson told the court how he kicked the woman to the head and then to her back and side, breaking her ribs and puncturing a lung.

His victim was able to get to a neighbour’s house to call the police where she was taken to hospital and discharged four days later.

Ms Wilson said that Boothe, of no fixed abode, was arrested after police raided a house and found him “hiding in the kitchen”.

Boothe, who has 12 previous convictions for 22 offences including possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and a previous assault case, gave no comment when interviewed.

But brought before the courts he confessed to causing grievous bodily harm.

Amy Weir, defending, said Boothe had earned credit for his guilty plea and said that while in custody he now had a job at HMP Altcourse.

She said that he hoped to avoid drug use once eventually out of prison but that “the real test of course will be when he is released”.

But Recorder Ben Lawrence reminded the court of Boothe’s vicious assault on his victim.

He said: “She immediately said ‘don’t hit me’, a reflection of past events between you.”

Recorder Lawrence also noted that Boothe had been on bail when he attacked the woman.

He jailed Boothe for 22 months and made him subject to a five-year restraining order forbidding from contacting the woman or going near any address where she may have been staying.

Boothe, who had been watching in silence up to that point, appeared to quietly nod and say “OK”.