Private hire driver jailed for belt attack on Toxteth woman because she was 'lazy' Michael Rezab, Delta driver jailed for 16 months after battering a woman with his belt leaving her bruised, bleeding and fearing for her life A private-hire driver was jailed after battering a woman with his belt leaving her bruised, bloodied and fearing for her life.
Police officers found victim Martina Ermardtova, 51, cowering on the floor and shaking at her flat in Granby Street, Toxteth , after 33-year-old Michael Rezab attacked her because he thought she was a “lazy woman.”
Rezab, of Rufford Road in Fairfield , was jailed for 16 months at Liverpool Crown Court today after earlier pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Chris Hopkins, prosecuting, told the court the victim was left with bruises to her back, ribs and arms and a cut to her head.
The court heard Rezab, a friend of Ms Ermardtova’s partner, had asked to store some belongings at her flat while her partner was back in their native Czech Republic for medical treatment.
Mr Hopkins said: “On the afternoon of November 4 Ms Ermardtova had been to the library and came home to find the defendant asleep in the flat.
“He awoke and accused her of taking some documents. He took his belt off and began hitting her with it. She ran from the flat and he followed her and took her back in, not forcibly, but shouted at her to get back inside.
When Ms Ermardtova returned to the flat the beating continued, and she told police she “thought he would kill her.”
Mr Hopkins said two witnesses called the police after hearing the sound of a the blows landing and a woman crying out in pain.
Rezab was arrested at the scene and told officers he struck Ms Ermardtova with his belt 10 to 15 times.
The court heard Rezab had known the victim and her partner for around a year, and had agreed to help look after her while her partner was away.
He told officers she had been out of work and that it was causing problems with the landlord.
Mr Hopkins said: “He admitted he became upset and shouted at her to get a f**** job...
“When asked why he would do such a thing to a friend, he said her boyfriend was in the Czech Republic and she couldn’t look after herself. He said she was a lazy woman.”
Chris MacMaster, representing Rezab, said his client had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and had never been in trouble before, either in the UK or in his native Czech Republic.
He said: “I can understand why his police interview would trouble the Crown. It does seem that with Mr Rezab there are some cultural differences, I take it no further than that, but it is not offered as an excuse.
“That’s something that exists within Mr Rezab’s views and they do need to be challenged and examined.”
The court heard Rezab, described as “hard-working”, arrived in the UK eight years ago to work as a fork lift truck driver, before joining Delta as a private hire driver 12 months ago.
Judge Elizabeth Nicholls, passing sentence, said: “Such was the ferocity of your attack that two other people who lived nearby heard the repeated thwack of you striking a crying woman.
“When the police arrived they found her distressed, bruised and battered.”
source:
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liv ... d-10588299
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