Legal News
Father-of-two Handed Suspended Sentence for Repeated Child Abuse (19 September 2011)
Date: 19/09/2011
A father-of-two has received a suspended prison sentence after repeatedly hitting a child that hard it left her with injuries. Twenty-five-year-old Gary Hunneybell claims to have been scared by the severity of his own behaviour, broke down, and sobbed after abusing the girl. Burnley Crown Court heard that Mr. Hunneybell had himself been victim to violence at the hands of his father. Mr. Hunneybell also claims to have been suffering from anger management issues. Mr. Hunneybell, who has a previous record of battery, left his victim with “massive bruising”, as witnessed by the medics who examined her.
Mr. Hunneybell admitted child cruelty and was handed a four-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months. Mr. Hunneybell will be subject to 18 months supervision and must attend an anger management programme. The court heard that on his arrest, Mr. Hunneybell claimed that there was no explanation for his behaviour but he was suffering from stress at the time of the incident. Mr. Hunneybell’s previous convictions date back to 2002.
Acting on behalf of the defendant, Charlotte Holland stated that the offence crossed the custody threshold and admitted that Mr. Hunneybell’s actions had not been typical of the man. Miss Holland reminded the court that Mr. Hunneybell had experienced time in care as a child due to the violent acts of his father. She claims that the violence had had a “very profound effect” upon Mr. Hunneybell and “caused him considerable difficulties”. Miss Holland claimed that Mr. Hunneybell had been waiting for anger management treatment for ten months.
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