Cork man who violently assaulted his partner, leaving her with broken jaw and nose, is jailed

Judge told defendant: 'This had a very serious impact on the victim psychologically and physically. She spent months afterwards eating and drinking through straws'

Victim required surgery to have metal plates inserted in both sides of her jaw, court told. Picture: Larry Cummins

A woman returned home from a night’s drinking almost three years ago with her then partner, only to be violently attacked and left with a fractured jaw, fractured eye socket and broken nose and on Wednesday he was jailed for three years.

41-year-old Jonathan Kingsbury, formerly of Connolly Road, Ballyphehane, Cork, and more recently of Schull, Co Cork, was sentenced by Judge Helen Boyle to three years and nine months, with the last nine months suspended, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Boyle said: “This had a very serious impact on the victim psychologically and physically. She spent months afterwards eating and drinking through straws. Her jaw still gets stiff very easily.

“It is an aggravating factor that the assault was carried out on your partner in her own home. There was some element of not acknowledging that this was entirely your fault. It is very clear to everyone here that the blame lies with you [the accused] for the vicious assault you carried out.” 

The judge referred to his expressions of regret and remorse, his guilty plea, staying away from the victim and willingness to attend all counselling and courses prescribed for him as mitigating factors.

Garda Aisling Brosnan said Jonathan Kingsbury returned to the injured party’s house in Cork City after midnight on March 11, 2024, after being out in a pub together.

“He hit her head off a counter top, he hit her head off a wall, he punched her in the face, put his hands around her neck and threw heavy kitchen items at her. He had broken her phone. She ran from the house and called into neighbours and contacted the gardaí,” Garda Brosnan testified.

In the course of three days in hospital, she required surgery to have metal plates inserted in both sides of her jaw.

Victim impact statement

In her victim impact statement she said: “Since Jonathon assaulted me in March 2023, I have really bad anxiety and don't sleep properly. I don't go outside the door, Before I go anywhere, I'll get an anxiety attack. 

"It's horrible. I want to cry. I want to get sick, I start shaking. I start over-thinking things. When I do go out, it's just rushing to get things done and get back home. I'm always afraid I'll bump into him. 

"When I sleep, I sometimes have a dream and he could be in the dream so I wake up and that's it then — I'm awake and lying in bed or walking up and down the kitchen with anxiety. Sometimes, if I hear noises at night, I'm afraid that it's him at my door. I even got my locks changed as I didn't know if he had keys.

“I was always bubbly but I don't go out anymore. I don't socialise and only call to my sister. I wouldn't feel safe in a pub because I don't know where he'd be sitting.

Nikki O’Sullivan said the defendant wanted to reiterate his apology to the victim and assure her he would never approach her again. The barrister said the defendant was sober now for the past 18 months.”