A Birmingham man has been handed a suspended prison sentence after being caught on camera dragging his girlfriend by her hair and grabbing her throat outside The Swan pub in Rubery.
The disturbing incident took place on October 17, when Joseph Douglas, 38, of Boleyn Road, was filmed pulling his former partner across the ground while she clung to a lamppost in an effort to resist. Afterward, Douglas also confronted a bystander who intervened and called the police.
At Birmingham Magistrates' Court this week, Douglas pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) and common assault. He received a 24-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, along with 20 days of rehabilitation activity. He was also ordered to pay £150 in compensation and a £154 victim surcharge.
Prosecutor Rosalind Butler described how police responded to a call by a witness, Mr. Wood, who saw the violent act unfolding. Upon arrival, officers found the victim with visible injuries including a reddened neck, a bump on her forehead, and a swollen eye. The footage captured by The Swan’s CCTV corroborated Mr. Wood’s account, showing Douglas dragging the woman and then grabbing her throat during the altercation.
Douglas later angularly squared up to the man who had stepped in, instilling fear of violence. Despite the victim becoming visibly upset and reluctant to provide more details, the evidence against Douglas was clear.
Mitigating for Douglas, his solicitor revealed he expressed deep remorse, stating, “I hang my head in shame.” While not excusing his behavior, Douglas acknowledged that the couple was dealing with many personal problems at the time, and that alcohol played a role. He is currently unemployed but actively seeking help through the Change Grow Live programme and has kept out of trouble since 2014, except for this incident.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Douglas was also given a concurrent 14-day prison sentence for the common assault on Mr. Wood.