Boston, Massachusetts – A man in Massachusetts has been sentenced to 28 months in prison for a violent attack on a woman and a toddler, resulting in the child sustaining a head injury. Benjamin Mills, 33, was found guilty of two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm after a trial earlier this year.
The incident took place in August last year, following a night of drinking in the town center before returning home with a friend of the victim. Mills, in a fit of rage over a misplaced mobile phone, repeatedly hit the woman, causing a cut to her head. The assault led to the child being caught in the crossfire, suffering a head injury that required hospitalization.
During the trial, the court heard how the police and ambulance service responded to reports of a disturbance in the street, with the child requiring medical checks for bleeding to the head. The judge emphasized the serious risk posed to the child, stating that the injury could have had catastrophic consequences.
Despite minimal mitigation from his defense lawyer, Mills was also issued a 16-year restraining order to protect the victims. The judge highlighted the lack of self-control and heightened anger displayed by Mills when under the influence of alcohol, leading to the violent outburst that left both the woman and child injured.
The prosecution described the incident as a drink-fueled act of violence, with Mills unprovokedly assaulting the woman before noticing the child’s injury and halting the attack. The judge’s sentencing aims to hold Mills accountable for his actions and protect the victims from further harm. The case serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of domestic violence on families and the importance of seeking help to prevent such incidents from occurring.