'Dangerous man' armed with shovel smashes up former partner's home

A thug who lashed out at his ex-girlfriend's Bradford home with a shovel and attacked her has been jailed.

Dean Wilkinson, 37, has been put behind bars for a year after Judge Andrew Hatton described him as a "dangerous man" to women. Bradford Crown Court heard on Thursday that the couple had separated in 2023, but it was in January this year that Wilkinson turned up at the woman's home and began smashing windows with a shovel.

Wilkinson, of North Avenue, Bradford, also smashed glass in the front door before leaving the scene when the police were called. Judge Hatton said the complainant had been terrified and it was only a matter of good fortune that she was not injured by flying glass.

Read more: Yorkshire woman, 24, killed in horror crash as heartbroken family pay tribute to 'amazing' daughter

Wilkinson, who had previous convictions for assaults, harassment and breaching a restraining order, was not arrested until after a further incident at the woman’s home in the early hours of January 24. On that occasion Wilkinson was said to have “flipped” after the woman let him into the property and during an assault on the complainant outside the house he kicked her in the head and smashed her mobile phone.

The court heard that the woman returned to the property after smoke was seen and she discovered that a bed in the back garden had been set on fire. Wilkinson, who had 27 previous convictions for 52 offences, was arrested in February and at a previous court hearing he admitted offences of criminal damage, common assault and arson.

Barrister Chloe Hudson, for Wilkinson, said he had foolishly resorted to drug taking at the time and he now apologised for his behaviour. Jailing Wilkinson for a total of 12 months Judge Hatton described his offending as a disgraceful course of conduct.

Get all the latest and breaking West Yorkshire court news straight to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter here.

He noted that some of Wilkinson’s previous offences had involved ex-partners and added: "It is clear you are an emotionally immature individual who is prepared to resort to damage and violence....it is the adult version of stamping your foot in temper.

“You are clearly a dangerous man to women who are foolish enough to engage in relationships with you.”

In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Hatton imposed a five-year restraining order which bans Wilkinson from contacting the complainant except through solicitors and prohibits him from going to her address.