Horror Plymouth partner jailed for shocking offences

A man who assaulted a woman has been handed a jail sentence. Rhys Sturge, aged 28 and of King Street, Plymouth appeared at Plymouth Crown Court after pleading guilty to a series of offences which took place in Plymouth and in Portsmouth.

He admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm upon the the woman at her home in Flora Court, damaged her phone and damaging her TV on May 4 last year. He also admitted assaulting an emergency worker on June 8, 2024.

Sturge also admitted to a further charge of actual bodily harm on the woman and damaging her property from October 28, 2024 at an address in Portsmouth.

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The court heard Sturge and the woman had been in a relationship for more than a year but on May 4, 2024, both had been drinking alcohol and began to argue. He snatched her £230 phone from her hand, threw it on the floor and stamped on it. He then punched the woman repeatedly and when she kicked out at him, he kicked her back. He also bit her finger. Afterwards he grabbed her TV and headbutted it.

When arrested by police he told them "when I get out she'll f****** get it, I will f****** slice her".

Sturge was later released but when police attended his address on June 8, 2024 he was "verbally abusive" to them. One officer placed his baton at an open window and Sturge "lunged" at him with "either a screwdriver or knife". He was eventually subdued using Captor spray and arrested.

After being charged for those offences he was brought to court, but released on court bail and was placed in a bail hostel in Portsmouth. However, the court heard that his partner remained in contact with him and stayed with him on a number of occasions on three occasions.

On August 18, they were together in Portsmouth where he got drunk and they had another argument which spilled into the street. Sturge then punched her to the ribs and headbutted her forehead. He punched her again, causing her to fall to the ground. He then returned to the property and damaged her hairdryer and hair straighteners worth a total of £80.

Taking into account the aggravating and mitigating factors, Judge Matthew Turner jailed Sturge for a total of 11 months, minus time he had spent on remand and on curfew.

Judge Turner told Sturge he would serve half the sentence before being released on licence. Judge Turner said he would agree to a three year restraining order not to contact his former partner nor to attend her home in Flora Court.