A MAN who repeatedly beat his girlfriend and once strangled her to the point that she passed out has been handed a suspended sentence.
Alexander Stampp punched, bit and threatened to kill his partner Roxanne Spalding during a series of attacks over four months.
In one of the vicious beatings, the 26-year-old slammed her face into a sink causing a fork to stab into her neck.
But Stampp, of Kynaston Avenue, Thornton Heath, avoided immediate jail – even though the magistrate recognised he had shown no remorse – because he has "emotional issues".
Instead the warehouse worker's six-month sentence for four counts of common assault was suspended for 18 months.
Croydon Magistrates' Court heard the couple had started dating in November 2011.
Roz Wardell, prosecuting, said: "The relationship started well but after a couple of months the arguments began, with increasing physical violence."
The first attack took place on April 14 at Miss Spalding's flat in Montacute Road, New Addington, when Stampp strangled her to the point that she passed out and collapsed on the floor.
Then, while at her flat on June 13, Stampp punched Miss Spalding in the face. A neighbour saw what happened but Stampp threatened to burn his flat down.
The violence continued on July 24, when Stampp slammed his partner's face into her kitchen sink with such force that a fork in the basin stabbed her neck.
Miss Spalding then went to hospital, where doctors also found heavy bruising on her right arm.
On August 4, Stampp beat Miss Spalding unconscious following an argument over websites he had been viewing.
Ms Wardell added: "When she woke up she tried to call for help on her phone but the defendant grabbed it."
On August 24, Miss Spalding went to Croydon Police station and reported her ordeal.
A police officer witnessed bruises and bite marks on her arm and took photographs of the injuries. Stampp was arrested and charged with four counts of common assault.
He was found guilty on all charges at Croydon Magistrates' Court and the case was adjourned until last Friday for a pre-sentence report.
Magistrates heard that Stammp's three-year-old daughter had died from a heart defect six years ago. Her death led him to have a breakdown and the end of the five-year relationship with the child's mother, leaving him with "emotional issues".
Chairman of the bench Graham Reed told Stampp: "You have shown no remorse or accepted any responsibility for offences which were committed over a period of months."
Stampp was given six months for each charge, to be served concurrently, with the sentences suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete 250 hours of community service, and pay £200 compensation to Miss Spalding.
A women's group has described the sentence as an 'all too familiar' example of how the courts treat domestic violence. Hamida Ali, of Croydon Labour Women's Forum, said: "This case is shocking and its outcome is equally shocking. To those involved in responding to violence against women, it's an all too familiar story. "This reminds us how much work remains to raise awareness about the prevalence, dynamics and impact of violence against women. "The Croydon Labour Women's Forum remains concerned about the response to violence against women in Croydon – including the workings of our justice system. Sentences like this give women no confidence in taking action."