A crazed boyfriend, who rammed his ex off the road in his white van as their toddler cowered in the back, has been jailed for two years.
David Partington, 39, from Droyslden, Greater Manchester, was furious at being told he could not see his son and repeatedly smashed his Volkswagen Caddy into the back of Farren Cummins’ car.
He had chased her down a busy shopping street and passed traffic by driving on the wrong side of the road to catch up with Miss Cummins, 26, as she drove her family to a wedding.
He forced her to crash into the back of another vehicle as he rammed her car up the street. He jumped out and threw himself onto the bonnet, shouting abuse and threats at her.
At Minshull Street Crown Court, Partington was jailed for two years, despite Judge John Potter hearing that the couple had got back together again.
David Partington (right), 39, from Droyslden, Greater Manchester, was furious at being told he could not see his son and repeatedly smashed his Volkswagen Caddy into the back of Farren Cummins’ (left) car
David Partington who rammed his van into the back of ex Farren Cummin’s car while their son was inside
The court heard that at a set of traffic lights he jumped out of his van and threw himself on the bonnet of car Miss Cummins’ car shouting: ‘Give me my son or I’ll batter you’ before jumping back into vehicle and taking up the chase again when he fell into the road.
The chase ended when Partington eventually sped off in another direction as police were called.
Miss Cummins, the couple’s child, two, and her sister were not injured in the incident last July 15 but the victim told police Partington had been ‘out of control’ and left her ‘in fear of her life’.
The court heard Partington, from the city’s Miles Platting district had been left ‘heartbroken’ after the couple split up in April following a six year relationship.
Prosecuting, Daniel Calder said: ‘There was a working arrangement for the defendant to see his son.
‘On the day of the incident he was due to collect him at 11am but when he didn’t arrive, she contacted him on the phone and he appeared to be under the influence and she told him that he was not permitted to see their son.
Miss Cummins, the couple’s child, two, and her sister were not injured in the incident last July 15 but the victim told police Partington had been ‘out of control’ and left her ‘in fear of her life’
‘He became abusive towards her and she put the phone down on him. She then left home and started making her way to a wedding with their son and her sister Courtney Cummins in the car.
‘As they were driving through Droylsden the defendant was driving his van when he saw them driving the opposite way.
‘He performed a U-turn to get behind her vehicle and began following her and repeatedly hitting the back of her car. He was essentially pushing her up the street. He then moved his fan in front of her vehicle to block her in.
‘He got out of his van and was banging on the windows and windscreen shouting at her ‘give me my son or ill batter you and your sister’.
‘He climbed onto the bonnet of her car and carried on hitting the windows and screaming abuse.
‘Miss Cummins managed to manoeuvre her way out of the position, and drove away with the defendant clinging onto the bonnet.
‘He did get off the bonnet and returned to his van, speeding through congestion and even swerving onto the opposite side of the road to keep up with her and repeatedly ramming into her car again.
‘He attempted to block her in again, and again Miss Cummins managed to manoeuvre out and drive away. By this time her sister was on the phone to the police.
‘He caught up to her again at speed as she was at a red light and hit her into another car before driving away. Miss Cummins said the defendant was out of control and dangerous.’
Partington waved to his ex-partner and his mother as he went down, with her waving back at him and smiling
Partington was arrested three days later and bailed but the pair clashed again after he bumped into Miss Cummins at her local pub.
During a confrontation back at her home, he called Miss Cummins a ‘stupid slag’, punched her in the face and cut himself with a knife before she managed to escape.
Partington pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. His lawyer Isabelle Thompson said in mitigation: ‘The background is that he did not handle the breakdown of the relationship well.
‘But there has been a reconciliation between him and the complainant, she sits in the court to support him with his mother.
‘He hopes to continue his relationship with her. He is very remorseful for his behaviour.’
He will be banned from driving for three years after his release from prison
But jailing Partington for two years and four months in prison, Judge Potter told him: ‘What you sought to do with your van was completely disgraceful because what you did using that van at most as a weapon to try to stop Miss Cummins driving with your child to that wedding.
‘Sitting in the rear of that vehicle was your child. You started ramming the back of the vehicle going at a high speed.
‘This was a sustained attack by you on her. I wonder what your child was thinking as you rammed into the back of the car on these occasions, terrorising your own child by using this van as a weapon.’
‘Miss Cummins was clearly terrified. However she does not wish to have a restraining order despite your behaviour towards her.’
Partington waved to his ex-partner and his mother as he went down, with her waving back at him and smiling. He will be banned from driving for three years after his release from prison.