This is the face of the violent thug who floored his girlfriend with one forceful blow before stealing her shoes and leaving to ‘humiliate and belittle her’.
Leon Pick, of Letchworth Road, New Parks was described as posing a ‘high risk’ to women when he was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court earlier this month, where he appeared via video link.
Leicestershire Police has now issued a mugshot of Pick at the request of LeicestershireLive.
The 36-year-old, who has 120 offences to his name, including domestic violence offences, pleaded guilty to two counts of actual bodily harm, assaulting an emergency worker, racially aggravated harassment, threatening behaviour, damage and an assault by beating – on various dates in September and November 2019.
The court heard on January 13 how he repeatedly attacked his girlfriend, on one occasion knocking her to the ground after an argument at Leicester’s Market Place on October 18 2019.
The couple had been in a relationship for several months and were arguing in Leicester’s Market Place when he aggressively punched her to the ground and made off with her shoes.
The police found her sitting on a bench in distress with a swollen lip.
(Image: Beth Walsh photography)
He also attacked her on two further occasions in November and December.
After the second attack, he kicked a policeman in the chest and racially abused another officer after he was arrested.
On an earlier occasion, he had punched another woman to the ground in Aikman Avenue, New Parks moments after being introduced to her.
Almas Ben-Ariba, prosecuting, said it was 20 days after receiving the suspended sentence that the incident happened.
The defendant was rowdily drinking with others outside a shop when the victim’s boyfriend – who had known Pick for 15 years – introduced her, saying: “Here’s my missus.”
Pick approached, saying “That’s why he’s got no money,” and punched her straight in the face.
Miss Ben-Ariba said: “It was unprovoked.
“She was knocked to the ground and suffered bruising and swelling to her left eye.”
What did the judge say?
Judge Robert Brown said the pre-sentence report assessed Pick as having a “high risk” of causing future harm to female partners and he advised Pick partner to seek help and support.
He said he understood she had helped Pick address his heroin addiction, which in turn had created alcohol dependence – a contributory factor to his violent temper.
However, the court heard how his girlfriend had forgiven Pick and had visited him in custody.
Judge Brown urged her to end the relationship if the defendant’s behaviour did not improve following his release.
Sentencing, the judge told Pick he had a bad record for violence, including “a history of domestic violence” with former partners.
Judge Brown said: “One of your problems is alcohol and the other is heroin and I’m told until you sort out your substance abuse you cannot move forward and I think that’s right.
“If you continue to commit acts of violence you will get longer and longer sentences – the choice is yours.”
What was said in mitigation?
Kelly Cyples, mitigating, said: “The defendant tells me that some aspects of his offending were forgotten because of the levels of alcohol involved.
“He had difficulty with heroin and although he maintained his (Methadone) prescription, he substituted that for alcohol.
“He says his behaviour was unforgivable.
“He wants to apologise for (racist) language used towards the police officer and he accepts he did it, but can’t recall it.”
He also said he ‘wanted to become a better person in the future’ and was in a ‘loving relationship’ with his girlfriend, but the alcohol has turned him into a violent man.
The court also heard how he had been diagnosed with anxiety and depression.
The sentence
He was sentenced for two years and 28 days.
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