Stafford Man Who Punched Pregnant Wife Avoids Prison Sentence
Jason Withers, a 36-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent, has been handed a community order after violently assaulting his pregnant wife, leaving her with a black eye and striking her in the stomach while she was carrying twins. The shocking details emerged at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, where Withers pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, three counts of common assault, and controlling and coercive behaviour.
A Pattern of Abuse and Control
The court heard that Withers systematically controlled his victim by changing her passwords on social media accounts, taking command of her finances, and forcing her to give him money. Prosecuting barrister Barry White revealed that the relationship deteriorated sharply around three months into their marriage, coinciding with Withers' descent into drug use, which the victim stated exacerbated his abusive behaviour.
White detailed how Withers would accompany his wife everywhere she needed to go, effectively isolating her, and continued to hit her even after learning of her pregnancy. The victim, who met Withers while he was an inmate in prison, reported the assaults to police after his return to the UK in 2024, providing photographic evidence of her injuries.
Legal Proceedings and Mitigating Factors
Despite denying all allegations and attempting to portray his wife as the aggressor, Withers' guilty plea and previous convictions—including a stalking offence in 2022 for which he served 27 months in prison—painted a damning picture. In mitigation, defence counsel Hunter Gray argued that the injuries were not the most severe possible for such offences and highlighted Withers' 25 weeks in custody as significant punishment.
Gray also cited Withers' diagnoses of PTSD from his time in special services and bipolar disorder, noting his positive response to medication under the care of Consultant Psychiatrist Dr James Williams at HMP Dovegate.
Judge's Stern Rebuke and Sentencing
Judge Richard McConaghy delivered a stern rebuke to Withers, condemning his use of crack cocaine and the "very badly indeed" treatment of his wife. The judge expressed concern over Withers' minimisation of the events and his poor attitude towards his spouse, as evidenced by threatening text messages.
"You need to start looking deeply into yourself. It is nobody else's fault other than yours why you’re here in this dock today," Judge McConaghy stated, acknowledging the fortunate birth of the twins but underscoring the gravity of the assaults.
Withers was sentenced to a community order with 45 rehabilitation activity requirement days and must participate in an accredited programme, avoiding a prison term despite the violent and controlling nature of his crimes.
