No jail for RAF man who beat girlfriend

Jan 19 2008 by Andrew Hirst, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

AN RAF airman who injured his girlfriend in a drunken assault was spared jail yesterday.

Huddersfield man Dale Jonathan Casper, 24, now living at Caergeiliog near Holyhead, had admitted assaulting Zoe Ainger at an earlier hearing and appeared yesterday at Caernarfon Crown Court for sentence.

Judge Philip Hughes said: “What you did was a bullying, drunken act of violence against a female behind closed doors.

“Such incidents are treated seriously by the courts and usually attract custodial sentences.”

But he added after considering all that had been said on Casper’s behalf he was able to avoid a jail sentence.

Casper, from Outlane, was ordered to carry out 150 hours’ unpaid community work, pay compensation of £1,000 to Ms Ainger and be supervised by the Probation Service for two years. He must pay costs of £355 and must not contact Ms Ainger.

Tom Morgan Jones, prosecuting, said the incident happened between 2.15am and 2.50am on November 23 last year.

“She had been out with friends and returned home late,’’ he said. “She found Casper still up drinking alcohol and then went to bed. Casper followed her into the bedroom and pulled her hair and dragged her to the floor. He then stamped on her face and chest with both feet.

“She screamed at him to stop and found blood was pouring from her mouth,” Mr Jones said.

She managed to get partially dressed and escaped from the house.

Mr Jones said she suffered bruising to the face and chest, one tooth was knocked out and another was loosened and chipped.

“Casper was arrested by police and he told officers he had “gone over the top”. He added he had taken tablets and said: “I’ve tried to kill myself”, said Mr Jones.

Matthew Dunford, defending, said Casper was a senior aircraftman based at RAF Valley and was highly regarded by his superiors.

He submitted a short psychiatric report prepared by an RAF officer and said the root of Casper’s problems was alcohol-related.

Mr Dunford said: “He sought help before this incident, but sadly that did not prevent it. He realises his consumption of alcohol makes him belligerent and has taken steps to cut down his use of alcohol.”

He added a jail sentence of any description would lead to Casper’s dismissal from the RAF and would not address his problems.