Duckworth, who had arrived already drunk and annoyed, struck his partner several times, including a punch to the head which caused a lump and pain. After leaving to buy alcohol with a friend, Duckworth was confronted by his partner over allegations he had been “flirting.” Following an argument, the friend left, and Duckworth became “aggressive and violent,” the court heard. The court heard Duckworth had breached a 12-week suspended sentence imposed on December 5 for shoplifting offences. He has 52 previous convictions for 100 offences, including a history of violent crime dating back to the 1990s.