Violent man imprisoned woman in Hove flat

1:12pm Friday 4th July 2008

A woman was held prisoner after she was attacked by her drunken boyfriend.

Emily Monaghan was grabbed by the throat and thrown to the floor by Carl Hill.

He repeatedly punched her in the face and threw her mobile phone on to the fire to stop her calling for help.

Neighbours heard her screams and alerted police who arrived at the flat in Sackville Road, Hove, minutes later.

Hill later denied false imprisonment and causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

He was found guilty after a three-day trial last month and appeared at Hove Crown Court for sentence.

Judge Austin Issard- Davies said Hill posed a danger to women with whom he was emotionally involved.

He said he would have jailed Hill for a year but he had already spent six months in custody awaiting trial and had served the equivalent of a 12-month sentence.

David Povall, prosecuting, said Miss Monaghan and Hill had split up but she had gone to his flat by agreement on December 1.

Hill, 41, was already drunk when she arrived but she stayed for a few hours before receiving a phone call from a family friend.

Hill flew into a rage and started to attack Miss Monaghan.

When police arrived Hill struggled and had to be restrained before he could be arrested. Miss Monaghan's face was badly swollen from the jaw to her hairline.

The court heard Miss Monaghan made a complaint of assault against Hill in October last year but later refused to make a statement.

Siobhan Lawson, defending, said Miss Monaghan had tried to contact Hill while he was in prison but he does not want to see her again.

Hill was given an 18-month supervised community order.

Judge Issard-Davies said: "These are very serious offences involving the battering and imprisonment of a woman."

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