A Swindon man has admitted assaulting five people – including his mother and sister – in a string of incidents, a court heard.
Appearing at Swindon Magistrates Court this morning, 21-year-old Connor Deeks, of Enford Avenue, Penhill, pleaded guilty to one count of actual bodily harm (ABH), four counts of assault by beating and two counts of criminal damage.
Addressing the assault on his mother and sister on 9 November 2020 first, Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, said Deeks had got into an argument with his sister through the door of her bedroom.
The argument ensued after he made the remark “sort your life out” having been accused of using the toilet for what she believed was an excessive amount of time.
Their mother came upstairs on hearing the commotion. She heard her daughter shout “get off me”, and she located Deeks pinning his sister down on the floor. Defending herself, she got up before hitting him repeatedly with a roll of wrapping paper.
The defendant then started swinging punches towards her and as a result, both were struck. He then grabbed and twisted his sister’s jumper, causing her to struggle for breath and pain in her neck. Moments later, having let go of her jumper, he grabbed her hair resulting in a clump being pulled out.
It was the Crown Prosecution Service’s case that he’d also kicked his mother in the stomach and leg as she tried to separate the pair, but this was denied by Deeks.
As his sister rang 999, she was then put into a headlock and said she was struggling to breathe. The defendant is said to have replied: “Good, I’ll stop you from breathing.”
On leaving, he damaged two doors within the property.
Mr Ballinger said he accepted a guilty plea on the basis that Deeks was assaulted by his sister first, having hit him with a roll of wrapping paper. He accepts he grabbed her jumper, pulled her hair and put her in a headlock but denies threatening her. He accepts pushing his mother but does not accept kicking or punching either of them.
On 7 October 2020, he assaulted his then-girlfriend by strangling her. He admitted to the mother that he’d put his hands around her neck during an argument and the incident was reported to the police by friends of the victim who she’d disclosed it to.
On 23 October 2020, a police officer visited his address in search of a male. Deeks became angry and aggressive towards the officer, and was restrained. He admitted stamping down on the police officer’s thigh during the incident.
On 6 December 2020, the defendant assaulted another woman – a girlfriend – during an argument. He admitted getting the victim in a headlock before punching her in the head. The incident was witnessed by her sister.
Emma Hillier, defending, asked for a pre-sentence report to be compiled.
She said her client is struggling with mental health issues and knows he has angry issues – both of which he is working to address.
Touching on the 9 November incident, Ms Hiller told the court Deeks suffered from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) which means he has to spend a long time on the toilet, which caused an argument that spiralled out of control.
He is no longer living at home, he lives at the fishing lakes in South Cerney with permission. Deeks has reconciled his relationship with his mother and sister.
Magistrates adjourned the case until 2 July for sentencing.
