Dario Rebac grabbed Samantha Potts by the throat and threatened her with a kitchen knife during the hour-long ordeal
A dumped lover has been jailed for beating up his ex-girlfriend and holding her at knifepoint because she was ‘late’ for a ‘farewell meeting’ after stopping off at McDonald’s.
Dario Rebac, 38, grabbed Samantha Potts by the throat and threatened her with a kitchen knife during the hour-long ordeal.
Jurors were told that the father-of-three had demanded Miss Potts, 36, return to her flat so he could pick up his kitchen utensils. However, his ex-girlfriend was hungry and had stopped for a Big Mac meal on her way home.
Police were called after Miss Potts managed to escape and alert a passerby. She was taken to hospital where she was treated for bruising to the face, bleeding to the eye, abrasions to her cornea and soft tissue damage to the head.
At Minshull Street Crown Court, Rebac, of Stockport, admitted assault and criminal damage and was jailed for 19 months.
The court heard the couple dated for five weeks and he had moved in with the mother-of-four within only two days of them meeting.
Prosecutor Kelly Cyples said Rebac ‘could drink heavily and used cocaine and steroids’ during their relationship.
Sentencing, Judge John Potter told Rebac: ‘Two weeks after you moved in, you assaulted Samantha after an argument pulling her hair and pushing her to the floor and kicking her.
‘Your victim suffered reddening to that attack upon her. She left the flat and you responded in a fit of anger slashing her clothes with a kitchen knife. You then contacted your victim at a time when she was in Cheshire.
Rebac (left) admitted assault and criminal damage and was jailed for 19 months. The court heard he and Miss Potts (right) dated for five weeks and he had moved in with the mother-of-four within only two days of them meeting
A dumped lover has been jailed for beating up his ex-girlfriend and holding her at knifepoint because she was ‘late’ for a ‘farewell meeting’ after stopping off at McDonald’s (stock image)
‘You rang her and asked her to go to her flat where you were waiting to talk to her about some money. You were angry when she returned because she had not returned sooner.
‘You subjected her to a further unlawful attack in which you were strangling and striking your victim. Such behaviour continues when you went into her flat. You locked the door, pushed her and grabbed her by the throat.
‘You knelt on her, pushed and slapped her and told her she was not leaving. At some point you picked up a knife. Your victim shouted from the balcony outside for help.
‘The police were called and the incident came to an end. Her injuries you caused includes bruising to her face, blood within her eye and soft tissue injuries to her face and head.
‘You had drunk alcohol and the attack occurred at the home of the victim. This was a domestic violence incident of which there was more than offence on more than one occasion. Only immediate custody is appropriate to you as these offences are so serious.’
Prosecutor Kelly Cyples said Rebac ‘could drink heavily and used cocaine and steroids’ during their relationship
Rebac was also banned from contacting Miss Potts indefinitely under the terms of a restraining order.
Miss Cyples told the court: ‘The victim said the relationship was good for the first couple of weeks but he could drink heavily and used cocaine and steroids.
‘After two weeks the defendant slapped her to the head and pulled her by the hair from the living room to the kitchen as well as kicking her causing her reddening as a result of that assault.
‘As a result of the assault, the victim left her property and went to a friend’s house. But when she returned her clothing and shoes had been slashed by a kitchen knife.’
Rebac has eight previous offences on his record including criminal damage, common assault, harassment and possessing an offensive weapon.
His counsel, Ian McMeekin, said in mitigation: ‘He has had time to reflect. There is a good side to this man and he can make good for himself.
‘He hopes to put his life back on track. He is remorseful and regrets his actions and is determined to change his ways.’