A MAN who beat his partner with a frying pan causing her more than 30 injuries in a ‘very bad case of domestic violence’ has been jailed.

Duncan McCall, aged 45 and of Blueberry Hill Farm in Walditch, Bridport, was found guilty of committing actual bodily harm following a trial.

He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment at Dorchester Crown Court.

Prosecuting, Gary Venturi told the court the victim had sustained more than 30 injuries in the attack involving a frying pan, which took place on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day 2015/2016.

Mitigating, Justin Shale said: “We don’t exactly know what happened on that occasion.

“We have no statement from the victim.

“She gave details of an account the crown doesn’t accept.

“She was in drink and taking prescription drugs and has previous convictions for violence.

“My client says she can give as good as she gets.

“There are some relationship problems but she is very keen to continue their relationship.

“He deserves help and she deserves him having help.”

Mr Shale argued McCall was not abusive and told the court of two “heroic” moments in his life.

He said in 1996 McCall rescued a woman from drowning and in 1997 there was an incident on an underground train where a man was threatening two young women.

He had a gun and a machete. Mr McCall intervened and managed to get the gun off him and persuade him out of the situation.

The court was told on New Year’s Eve last year the defendant and the victim went out together to a public house in Bridport.

At some stage an argument developed between the couple and there was an “incident of some sort” which was unclear.

This led to her calling the police at 4.04am saying she had been assaulted and was bleeding. When asked for more information by the police she said she “had to go” and hung up.

The victim was then said to spend the early hours of the morning in a public lavatory before returning home to her caravan.

Shortly before 10am on New Year’s Day the victim phoned the police again.

However, it was heard how she had not wanted to identify who had caused the injuries in police interview and during the trial was “adamant to take the blame” and said he was the victim.

The court was told that in a previous incident when the defendant was living in Guernsey he caused serious injury to the victim’s eye.

Recorder Nicholas Haggan QC described the defendant’s relationship with the victim as “volatile”.

He said: “There is no doubt in that relationship you were the dominant one and controlled her.

“She was particularly vulnerable. This is a very bad case of domestic violence.

“There were such marks that demonstrates she was struck by a frying pan.

“Her hair and blood were found on the pan.

“This was so serious that a fine nor a community sentence could be passed. I am sentencing you to 18 months imprisonment. I had in mind a much higher sentence before I listened to mitigation.”