A SENIOR prosecutor has praised a victim of domestic violence as public calls grow for the sentence to be reviewed.

At Preston Crown Court yesterday Melissa Connolly, of Westmorland Street, Barrow, was handed a 13 month prison sentence suspended for two years after attacking Peter Cairns on October 20 last year.

The court heard Connolly, 43, had refused to let Mr Cairns leave their home in Westmorland Street in Barrow which prompted him to start recording the incident on his phone.

After he tried to leave by the back yard she viciously smashed a wine glass in Mr Cairns' face before he ran out of the house and into the nearby Shengs takeaway looking for help.

He was treated at Furness General Hospital where doctors told him he was lucky not to have lost his eye.

Stuart Pattinson, a senior prosecutor for the CPS, said: “This is an extremely serious domestic abuse case in which Melissa Connolly carried out an unprovoked attack upon her partner using a glass as a weapon.

“When police arrived Miss Connolly asserted that she was the victim; that the glass hit Mr Cairns in the face when he punched her. However, the footage from Mr. Cairns’ mobile phone proved this to be untrue.

“It is thanks to Peter Cairns’ quick thinking in recording the incident, along with the evidence of those who assisted him at the scene that we were able to build a strong case, leaving Melissa Connolly no other choice than to plead guilty to wounding him.

“Many incidents of domestic violence towards men go unreported, for a variety of reasons. The CPS is committed to securing justice for all victims.

"I would encourage both male and female victims to report domestic abuse to the police and not suffer in silence.”

Connolly, who pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding without intent, was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation requirement for 25 days.

Recorder David Swinnerton also handed Connolly a five-year restraining order, banning Connolly from contacting Mr Cairns directly or indirectly, except through a third-party for tenancy matters.

The public have responded overwhelmingly in support of Mr Cairns with many calling for the sentence to be reviewed by the Attorney General, claiming if the case had involved a man attacking a woman in the same way he would have been jailed.

For certain offences, including those which are indictable only (must be heard in the crown court) such as unlawful wounding, any member of the public can request the sentence be reviewed.

A request can be submitted online by email or in writing.

The attorney general has 28 days to consider a request. Once he has reviewed the case, they may send it to the Court of Appeal.