Man Sentenced to 23 Years for Attempted Murder of Partner

A man has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for repeatedly kicking his partner in the head while she lay unconscious on the floor. Benjamin Swindells, 30, assaulted his then-girlfriend Sophie Conroy in the early hours of 13 April outside the Tesco Express on Barnsley Road in Wakefield. During his trial, jurors heard testimony describing how he had kicked her “like a football” and left a boot print on her face after stamping on her head. Swindells, who has no fixed abode, received his sentence at Leeds Crown Court after being found guilty of attempted murder. When passing sentence, Judge Howard Crowson addressed Swindells, stating: “You are a dangerous offender at risk of causing harm to the public.” The judge noted that Swindells had “stamped so hard” on Ms Conroy’s face that “there was a visible boot print,” and she required assistance to breathe. During the trial, Richard Arkless testified that he had witnessed Swindells “take a kick at her head as if she were a football,” adding that he could “hear the crack of her head bouncing on the pavement.” He further informed the jurors that he “didn’t think she was going to come out the other side.” Witnesses also recounted that Swindells paused during the assault to smoke a cigarette. Police body-worn video footage played in court depicted Swindells screaming “kill him” at the arresting officers. Following the attack, Ms Conroy spent over a week in hospital, where she was treated for extensive swelling to the head and significant facial injuries. Judge Crowson stated that she now suffers from “a deep mistrust of people and a lack of confidence, and severe anxiety.” In addition to the 23-year prison term, Swindells was informed that he would serve an extra four years on licence after his release and would be subject to a life-long restraining order. At his trial in October, the court was told that he had a prior conviction for battery against another former partner in 2019 and had assaulted Ms Conroy before the incident on April 13. Acting Detective Sergeant Andrew Jones of West Yorkshire Police commented: “Swindells is a dangerous individual who has demonstrated that he is willing to use extreme violence in a domestic relationship.” He added: “This was a sustained attack on a female victim which continued as she lay unconscious on the floor.” “Swindells initially tried to blame others for the assault but has since admitted causing these horrific injuries.” “Eight months on the victim is left with physical and psychological damage from this attack.” “I hope the conclusion of this court case helps her in her ongoing processing and recovery from this incident.”