Pc sentenced for punching partner

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A Greater Manchester police constable convicted of punching his girlfriend in a caravan has been sentenced.

Stephen Johnson, 29, from Manchester, had denied assaulting Annemarie Murphy, 38, at Towyn, north Wales, in July.

Llandudno magistrates gave him a 12-month supervision order and said he must pay £455 costs.

He was on bail at the time of the assault for harassing another woman and later given a restraining order. He has been suspended from police duties.

Johnson had denied attacking Ms Murphy, who gave evidence in his defence at his trial last month.

The court heard Ms Murphy suffered facial swelling and a cut under her eye but claimed Johnson had accidentally caught with the back of his hand in the middle of a drunken row involving her sister.

In finding Johnson guilty, the court chairman said the bench had found the prosecution witnesses credible.

The witnesses included Donna Foden, from Crewe, who was staying in a neighbouring caravan, who said she had heard raised voices and swearing.

'Separated'

Ms Foden said she looked out of a window and saw a woman being punched in the face and that children were screaming hysterically.

A police constable who gave evidence said a drunken Ms Murphy had been sobbing uncontrollably and had wiped blood from her face.

The trial heard Ms Murphy had told the officer she had been punched in front of her sister and two children but would not make a formal complaint.

The sentencing on Wednesday heard Johnson's restraining order was in relation to a woman he had been seeing while he had been separated from Ms Murphy for a short time.

Abigail Hudson, defending, said her client was now anxious to continue his relationship with Ms Murphy.

'Psychologist'

She said: "He's now reunited with Miss Murphy.

The court heard Johnson had suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and had been referred to a psychologist after the death of the couple's baby son a few years ago.

Johnson is currently suspended from duty.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said after the case: "He will be subject to an internal disciplinary hearing."