Corby man Callum Muttock admits punching girlfriend twice after she was pulled down stairs in Christmas day attack

A Corby woman was pulled down the stairs and punched by her violent ex-boyfriend in front of a young child.

Callum Muttock had been arguing with the woman at the top of the stairs after he had gone for a pre-arranged Christmas day contact visit on December 25, 2021.

Northampton Crown Court heard the victim grabbed hold of a chain around his neck but he moved with unlawful force and, as a consequence of his actions, she ended up falling downstairs.

When she got to the bottom of the stairs he punched her twice in front of the child who he’d come to see.

He had been angry that, after discovering that he wasn’t the child’s biological father, the mother no longer wanted him to see the child.

After he was arrested, the 26-year-old was told not to contact his victim, but he did so.

The court was told Muttock, of Tunwell Lane, has eight previous convictions for 16 offences. In court last week, he pleaded guilty to one count of assault.

Although he had no previous convictions for domestic violence, the court was told the police had been called to numerous reports of domestic assault involving him.

At the time of the offence he was 17 months into a 24-month suspended prison sentence for dealing drugs in Corby.

Mitigating, barrister Micaila Williams said that her client took full responsibility for his actions and was sorry.

“This is a young man who’s got over the difficulties with drugs,” she said.

"He holds down a job as a ground worker. He’s got himself out of a hole.

"He knows how much work he has to do to keep himself on the right side of things.”

Her Honour Judge Adrienne Lucking said that even if she did jail Muttock, sentencing guidelines meant that the period of imprisonment would only be very short. If Muttock served his sentence in the community then he could receive a range of help to improve his behaviour.

She said: “You found out the child was not yours but wanted to remain in contact with the child. There were tensions, but that’s no excuse.

"This court deals with individuals who have come before the court complaining about things that have happened to them. The defendant says ‘well I’ve had a difficult childhood.’

"What you’ve done is to inflict a difficult childhood on a child you believed to be yours.”

Judge Lucking ordered Muttock to complete a two year community order to include 180 hours of unpaid work in the community. He will also have to undertake 20 rehabilitation requirement days and attend the Building Better Relationships course.

He will also pay £450 in costs.

He was also given a restraining order banning him from contacting his ex-partner and warned that any breach of the order could see him jailed for up to five years.

- If you are suffering domestic violence, you can find out more about a range of local agencies who can help by visiting Northamptonshire Police’s dedicated Domestic Violence Resource page.

If you do not wish to speak to the police, you can seek support by contacting the Sunflower Centre.