text: A Meltham man has been given a suspended jail sentence after he head-butted a woman in the face.
  Leeds Crown Court heard Paul Quinn had been going out with Aniela Pilarski for four or five months before the incident last October.
  They had been out drinking before returning to his flat and a problem occurred between them, Allan Armbrister prosecuting told the court.
  His girlfriend had gone into the bathroom but was followed by Quinn who “cupped his hands around the back of her neck and head butted her causing her to fall over.”
  As a result she had bruising and a cut to her forehead which was bleeding. She said initially Quinn did not want her to leave and tried to clean up the blood with a tissue but eventually she did go and reported the matter to the police.
  Quinn had subsequently sent her a text message saying: “You didn’t deserve what I did” and saying he loved her but told police she had stumbled and was injured, claiming it was an accident.
  Chloe Hudson representing Quinn said he now accepted he was responsible for the injury and that it was not accidental.
  After 33 years of marriage his wife had died in November 2013. She had suffered from a chronic pulmonary disease for a considerable time which meant she needed oxygen and Quinn had been her carer.
  He had obviously suffered emotionally and “perhaps formed a relationship here far too quickly afterwards.”
  She said Quinn had met the complainant because both worked at the same care home “and went into the relationship wholeheartedly and it is clear she was not as keen as he was.”
  When Miss Pilarski began to cool things off he could not accept it. “The combination of alcohol and wanting the relationship to continue developed into a confrontation and this incident occurred.”
  She said they were now working on different shifts and he had no contact with her.
  Quinn, 56, of Highfield Crescent, Meltham admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months with 150 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £500 costs and £500 compensation.
  Recorder Paul Miller said he could suspend the sentence because of his previous good character and genuine remorse.