A 43-year-old man is accused of a violent campaign of domestic abuse against his ex-partner
A man attacked his ex-partner by throwing a bucket of paint at his head, putting chicken bones in his pillow, and writing obscenities on his walls, a court has heard.
James Bentley, 43, denies assaulting his ex-partner and causing criminal damage to the flat they rented in Lewisham in May last year. A trial at Bromley Magistrates’ Court heard on Thursday that the pair met on an app on December 24 2024 and moved in together in April last year in Bellingham, south-east London.
The court heard Bentley allegedly poured a glass of Coca-Cola over his then-partner after an argument about internet usage on April 19 last year. The alleged victim told the trial on Thursday that an “intense” Bentley broke a television at the property using a hammer on May 3 last year.
The man told the court: “He started to attack me with his hands and I was filming this on my phone because at least I hoped this would stop him. It didn’t stop him. He pushed me and I fell onto a wall. My nose started bleeding.”
It is further alleged Bentley punched the man in the face on May 5 last year. Prosecutor Akram Rana said Bentley was “angry” his ex-partner was painting a bedroom for someone else on May 15 last year and walked into the room and said “you’re a c***”.
Giving evidence, the man said: “He started to write the word ‘c***’ on all the walls I had already painted. He cut his coat and started to push out all the feathers so they started to stick on the walls. He wanted to stop me doing the refurbishment in the room.”
The court heard that he also left chicken bones in his pillowcases. Prosecutor Mr Rana said Bentley tried to provoke a fight and the alleged victim “fell over and the right side of his glasses broke”.
On May 16 last year, it is alleged Bentley followed his ex-partner and accused him of “going to speak to friends secretly” and then damaged his bike.
The alleged victim told the court: “He attacked me with a bucket of the paint, throwing it on my head – the spill of the paint went all over the radiator and carpet.”
Bentley denies five charges of assault by beating, three charges of criminal damage and one charge of common assault.
The trial continues and will resume on August 6.
