Domestic violence PC beat his own partner
Aug 21 2008 by Neil Mckay, The Journal
A POLICE officer who conducted domestic violence courses launched a savage attack on his girlfriend. Wayne Robinson, 33, repeatedly punched his partner in the face before turning his aggression on her friend.
Robinson, of Rosedale Road, Crawcrook, Gateshead, who has resigned from Northumbria Police, admitted the attack on girlfriend Angela Moore and her friend Tracey Robson.
Ms Robson last night spoke of her horror at seeing him attack her friend “without mercy” and said she was still terrified of him.
Domestic violence campaigners welcomed the conviction, which they said meant nobody was above the law.
Ms Robson, of Runhead Estate, Ryton, spoke to The Journal after Robinson who appeared before Gateshead magistrates yesterday, admitted two charges of assault by beating.
She said: “I’m only 5ft two and eight and a half stone wet through. Angela is even smaller, yet he laid into us both, something just seemed to snap.
“I am still frightened of him. If I hadn’t been there I am terrified to think of what he would have done to Angela. He was laying into her without mercy.”
Ian Simpson, prosecuting, said Robinson was at his then girlfriend Ms Moore’s home in Valley Crescent, Blaydon, with Ms Robson on the evening of May 5 this year. He said the trio had enjoyed a pleasant evening, drinking wine and spirits and eating a Chinese takeaway.
Ms Robson told police Ms Moore later went upstairs and Robinson followed. The mood of the evening quickly soured.
She said she heard shouting upstairs, and Ms Moore came back down followed by Robinson.
Mr Simpson said he began repeatedly punching her as she sat on a chair, causing injuries to her face, jaw and arms. When Ms Robson tried to intervene, Robinson lashed out at her, causing swelling to her lips.
Mr Simpson said: “She eventually managed to bundle him out of the house. She said she was very frightened and had never been struck by a man before.”
William Copsley, representing Robinson, said his client had “done the decent thing” by resigning from Northumbria Police. He said part of his duties with the force was “running courses on domestic violence”.
Mr Copsley said: “He had been through a very messy divorce, he had financial problems, now he has lost the woman he loved, lost his job and his career, he will have no money coming in after next month.” He said Robinson had stopped drinking after the attack and was indeed attending an anger management course.
Robinson, addressing the court, said: “What I did was very heinous, I should be punished.”
The court adjourned sentencing until September 10 and Robinson was warned he faced a higher-based community order.
Last night a Northumbria Police spokeswoman confirmed Robinson who was stationed in Newcastle, had resigned from the force. She was unable to comment on the type of courses he ran on domestic violence.
Clare Phillipson, director of Wearside Women in Need, a charity which helps victims of domestic violence, said: “This conviction is good news for women. It shows that nobody is against the law. Our helpline is inundated by women living with powerful men who are being abused and who are terrified nobody will believe them. This conviction sends out the message that they will be believed.”
