A father “backhanded” his estranged partner and broke her nose during a car ride home from a children’s party, a court heard.
Unemployed 46-year-old Craig Sterio was a passenger in the front seat of a car former partner Stacey Rumney was driving home from a children’s party on the evening of April 8 this year.
But an argument broke out, prosecutor Nigel Friar told Cardiff Crown Court .
“They were travelling back from a children’s party when Mr Sterio became agitated,” Mr Friar said.
“He [Mr Sterio] has a number of problems with alcohol and had about six cans of cider and had been drinking in the pub.”
The court heard how Sterio started swearing before throwing a mobile phone at the dashboard.
He then pulled the handbrake as his former partner was driving down Lansdowne Road in Cardiff before threatening to “smash the car up”, Mr Friar said.
Ms Rumney carried on driving but Sterio “continued to act in an aggressive manner”. Five minutes later, along Colin Way, Sterio again pulled up the handbrake.
Mr Friar said: “He said: ‘I’m going to backhand you now’ and he immediately used his right hand and slapped her to the face with considerable force.
“Blood was flowing from her nose. She put him in a headlock and stopped him from doing anything else.
“She then got out of the car and Mr Sterio drove off.”
The court heard Ms Rumney was left with a nosebleed with “extensive pain” that left her nose deformed and fractured.
Police officers were flagged down and Ms Rumney was taken to hospital.
In a victim impact statement she said the incident had a “huge impact on her emotions” and she “felt numb” afterwards.
After he was arrested Sterio admitted what he had done in interview.
He said after an argument he threw the phone and pulled the handbrake of the car and tried to push Ms Rumney out of the car when he hit her face.
The court heard Sterio has appeared 39 times in front of court for 130 offences, including some for violence against Ms Rumney.
In September last year he smashed the front and back windows of her car at her home and had a community order imposed.
Defence barrister Christopher Evans said Sterio had “two sides” to him.
“There are two sides to Mr Sterio,” he said. “When he has consumed alcohol these events spiral out of control and that is what happened on the day in question.
“Since this offence he hasn’t had a drop of alcohol. He wants to be given a final chance but he realises he is skating on thin ice.”
'Monster' boyfriend thumped partner of four years in face with wine bottle
Sterio, of Sapphire Street, Adamsdown, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Recorder Peter Rouch sentenced Sterio to eight months imprisonment suspended for two years.
He must also take part in a rehabilitation activity for up to 15 days, abide by a curfew, and pay a victim surcharge of £140.
“It is quite clear that you have an innate anger problem and that manifests into violence,” he told Sterio. “Any man should feel thoroughly ashamed of what you did.”
