'Nasty bully' repeatedly punched partner while 'bragging' he was a UFC fighter
A man launched a "nasty, bullying attack" on his partner as he "bragged" he was a UFC fighter. Kevin Berger punched his now ex multiple times at her home and left her crying on the floor, leaving her with a lump on the head and bloody nose.
The defendant, of Highlands Road, Rhuddlan, even filmed the attack, Mold Crown Court heard today [Monday]. The court heard the 45-year-old admitted one count of actual bodily harm on the second day of his trial.
The pair had started a relationship in October 2022, it had been going well for the first couple of months and they moved in together, Laura Knightly, prosecuting, told the court. However on a night during the run up to Christmas 2022, she came home later than expected one night and Berger attacked her.
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He came out of the kitchen, wearing a pair of black gloves, and punched her multiple times. She went to the floor crying with a lump on her head and she was bleeding from the nose.
"While she was on the floor, the defendant was recording her with his phone, saying 'you did this, this is your fault, you fell because you were drunk'," the prosecution said. The relationship continued and two domestic violence prevention orders (DVPOs) for 28 days each, were imposed on Berger to stay away from the complainant.
The relationship ended in November 2023, following further reports by the victim to the police. In a victim impact statement, she said she became a different person and the relationship impacted her, her children and her mental health. She is now a totally different person after ending it.
Gareth Bellis, defending, told the court Berger had been on a curfew for a year and not breached it, had a good work record and the offence happened in 2022, saying Berger did not need to go to prison and could be rehabilitated in the community. Judge Niclas Parry said: "This was a nasty, bullying assault upon your victim in a domestic setting, in her own home, where she should be safe, bragging that you were a UFC fighter.
"You attacked a woman in her home, repeatedly punching her to the head, leaving her bloodied and crying on the floor where you continued to demean her verbally." Judge Parry said his control over her was consistent with his attitude towards woman, as indicated by previous convictions.
She struggled to end the relationship and sought the help of police, but he continued to see her despite two DVPOs and wouldn't admit his guilt until the second day of trial and showed no remorse. The judge sentenced Berger to 14 months in prison, suspended for two years - given current prison conditions - with 250 hours unpaid work and a programme of up to 35 sessions.
He was also ordered to pay £750 in compensation and a court surcharge, within three months.
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