Ex-Cheshire Police detective attacked two of his girlfriends

A court heard Detective Sergeant Robert Astbury was so incensed after checking one of his girlfriend's WhatsApp messages he started punching walls in 'a complete frenzy' and forcibly grabbed her arm to stop her leaving.

The 51-year-old has resigned from Cheshire Police after 20 years service - the same day he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court for sentence.

Astbury, of Occleston Place, Middlewich, pleaded guilty to assaulting one victim between December 27 and 28, 2019, and assaulting the second woman between June 3 and 4 last year, as well as causing damage to her overnight bag.

Henry Riding, prosecuting, said the offences came to light after Astbury’s two mobile phones were seized and one revealed messages relating to the two women.

One of the women was contacted, who confirmed she had been in a relationship with him from the end of December 2019 to February 2020 and he had bit her on the face.

She said it happened after an argument they had between Christmas and New Year after both had been drinking. He took hold of her head and bit her on the left cheek.

The woman, now aged 45, had taken a photograph of the circular mark which did not include any puncture wounds and it developed into a bruise which spread downwards onto her neck.

"Her anxiety was severely affected," said Mr Riding. "She is now in a better place but was left emotionally numb by the belittling behaviour she was subjected to."

The court heard he formed a relationship with another woman at the end of 2022 and she was at his 50th birthday barbecue at his home in June last year.

She passed him her phone to put on charge while she went to the bathroom and Astbury, who had been drinking, checked her WhatsApp account.

Mr Riding said when she came back 'he had completely changed and looked very angry and started asking questions about a police officer she had previously dated'.

That relationship had ended before she met Astbury and they were old and innocuous messages.

"He started shouting at her calling her ‘a sl*g’ and she described him as in a total rage, punching walls," Mr Riding added.

"He began calling her names and punching walls in the property. He grabbed hold of his hoodie that she was wearing pulling at it with such fore that it came off, leaving her both humiliated and vulnerable. He continued in a rage to punch doors and walls.

"The 43-year-old woman went upstairs to pack an overnight bag and tried to ring a friend but was not sure if she could hear her.

"Astbury came in and pushed her into a wall and called  her ‘a sl*g’. He was in a complete frenzy and completely lost control.

"He began to calm down but as she moved towards the stairs he tried to stop her and threatened to call the police if she got into her car suggesting she was drink-driving.

"When she reached the front door he grabbed the bag, ripping it and causing contents to spill out.

"She screamed as loud as she could hoping neighbours would hear and he let go and she ran away to a nearby public house."

The friend she had earlier rung arrived and found her looking visibly distressed. The following day the defendant rang and apologised and said he had reacted because of his 'insecurities'.

The victim told him it was not his insecurities that was the problem, saying: “It was the violent outbursts, I was terrified of you.”

Mr Riding added the incident had left her with bruising to her left upper arm.

When interviewed about the assaults Astbury claimed the first woman had a drink problem and she had been paralytic that night and had no recollection of events.

When shown the photograph of her bite mark, he said she liked to be bitten during sex but denied biting her that night.

He claimed after he challenged the second woman about the WhatsApp messages she slapped him across the face and when she went to throw a second punch he grabbed her arms and had acted in self-defence.

Daniel Lister, defending, said Astbury had pleaded guilty and has no previous convictions.

He added: "He has not only lost his good character but he has also lost the respect he had for himself by losing his employment.

"He is insightful and has voluntarily sought help with the ‘Change, Grow, Live’ service in Crewe for his binge drinking problem, although he is not an alcoholic.

"He has been diagnosed with depression and both women had been aware and acknowledged his mental health difficulties. “He lost control of his emotions and failed to regulate them with his partners."

Mr Lister added the defendant is primary carer for his mum who has various health problems.

Judge David Potter said the matter was so serious it had to be marked with a custodial sentence but there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

He sentenced Astbury to a total of nine months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and ordered him to carry out 120 hours unpaid work and 10 days rehabilitation activities.

The judge also ordered him to pay the first victim £500 compensation and £250 to the other woman.

The court heard the first woman no longer lives in the area but the judge imposed a five-year restraining order to keep Astbury away from his second victim.