A wedding day was turned into a “terrifying and shameful episode” when a guest attacked his girlfriend and cut a teenager’s face.
Roland Povall, 48 and of Pensby Road in Heswall, has a history of domestic violence but claims to have little memory of the incident and was “deeply ashamed”.
He and his girlfriend attended a wedding in Lathom near Preston in April. The day went to plan until guests went to their hotel rooms at the end of the night.
Prosecuting, Gerald Baxter said: “At 11pm, the teenage boy was in the room with his brother. The defendant and his partner were in the next room having a petty argument and he went in to ask them to stop arguing. Shortly after, he heard banging and believed she was in danger.
“He opened the door and saw Povall standing over his partner in the bathroom. The defendant was rocking back and forth with his hands clenched in fists. He worried the defendant would attack her and grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back.”
Povall told him to get out and when the teen refused the defendant picked up a mug and smashed it over the boy’s head. He then hit him again with the broken handle, cutting his cheek.
The fight had spilled into the hall where Povall’s partner tried to get between them. The defendant punched her in the face, giving her a black eye.
A bridesmaid in a neighbouring room came out to ask them to be quiet but was also punched in the face by Povall, causing her to bleed.
At an earlier hearing, Povall pleaded guilty to two counts of wounding and one of assault. The court today heard that the victims had declined to provide impact statements and no request was made for restraining orders.
Defending, Richard English said his client had experienced a difficult childhood, seeing his dad regularly assault his mum, and had been diagnosed with PTSD after the death of his baby son.
Mr English added: “He is very sorry for what has happened. He didn’t set out to cause trouble. He understands the impact of what he has done has had on his victims. He has seen the CCTV footage and is ashamed.”
Sentencing, Judge Ian Unsworth KC described what happened as a “terrifying and shameful episode on what should have been a joyous occasion”. The judge did not accept that Povall’s PTSD had any impact on this incident and said he was concerned by his history of domestic violence.
He said: “You have a short temper, fuelled by alcohol. You also have an issue when it comes to violence and your partners.” In 2016, Povall was given a 35-month sentence after a brutal attack left a different girlfriend with a black eye and punctured lung.
Judge Unsworth ruled Povall should be considered a dangerous offender and therefore be subjected to an extended sentence. Povall was handed a seven-year sentence with a further three years on licence.
