Southampton man 'broke into' former partner's home and attacked her

Phillip Andrews, 44, of Peartree Avenue, breached a restraining order when he forced his way into his former partner’s home.

Southampton Crown Court heard that he had been in an “on and off” relationship with his victim for some time. 

Prosecuting, Christopher Wing told how the defendant breached a court order during an attack on January 23 this year.

Andrews’s former partner had called the police when she became aware of him in the home.

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She and a man then “took refuge upstairs” but when she went downstairs, Andrews grabbed her by the throat, spat in her face and punched her.

He then picked up a lamp and struck the man over the head with it.

When police arrived, they claimed to have seen Andrews with a chair above his head.

Speaking on the restraining order, Mr Wing said: “This is a very serious breach to go around there and force entry into the agreed property.”

Phillip Andrews, 44, of Peartree Avenue. Photo from: Hampshire Constabulary.

Andrews had previously appeared before the courts in 2014 when a community order was imposed, which was later upgraded to a suspended sentence.

He was also prosecuted for harassment on December 14, 2020.

But defending, Jamie Gammon told the court that Andrews had been “overwhelmed by passion”, acknowledging that he had entered guilty pleas previously at crown court.

It was also said that Andrews had lost his accommodation as a result of the charges against him.

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But the judge, recorder, Mr Malcolm Gibney said: “It is quite clear from the statements that they were terrified to the point where they retreated upstairs afraid of what might happen.”

He added that the victims had suffered both physical and psychological harm after Andrews took it upon himself to “pretty much break into” her home.

Andrews was handed a 12-month sentence for breaching his restraining order, nine months for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two months for common assault, to run concurrently.

The judge added that Andrews will only serve half of this sentence, with only four months remaining as he has already served two months after being arrested two months ago.

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