A MAN described in court as like “a wild animal” is starting a prison sentence for a string of “serious, anti-social, frightening” incidents.

Lizzie Parry

A MAN described in court as like “a wild animal” is starting a prison sentence for a string of “serious, anti-social, frightening” incidents.

Ricky Woolnough was sent to prison for three separate incidents from August 2008 to July 2009 after the judge deemed it “high time the people of Suffolk had a rest” from his actions.

The 29-year-old appeared at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday where Judge Roderick Newton condemned him to four years and three months in prison after he admitted two common assaults, one charge of affray, dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, criminal damage and the most serious offence, assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Judge Newton said when Woolnough, formerly of Peasenhall, had consumed alcohol “he behaves like a wild animal”.

The court heard how on August 4, 2008, the father-of-two was in Aldeburgh and seen repeatedly punching a man around the head, after shouting abuse at his victim's wife.

He then lashed out at a car with three people sitting inside, punching the driver's side window showering glass over the occupants.

Then on February 16, 2009, Woolnough was driving through Rendlesham, repeatedly ramming the vehicle in front from behind, at one point forcing the car to pull out at a junction when another vehicle was coming.

He then pulled alongside the car on Tunstall Road, ramming it out of control, leaving the car half-way across the road, partly in a ditch.

On July 26, 2009, Woolnough arrived at the house of his former lover in Saxmundham with another man.

She was in the house with her five children and some of their friends.

Woolnough squared up to the woman's 15-year-old son and, as she stepped in between the pair, Woolnough head butted her before grabbing a weapon from his back pocket. He then reined down blows on her, using the wooden cosh, hitting her all over her body, telling her he would “smash her face in” as she tried to protect her son, who he threatened to kill.

Defending Andrew Thompson said his client, who has a violent record dating back to 1995, has a problem with alcohol, saying he went off the rails after losing an unborn baby. He said when sober the 29-year-old is “completely shocked” at his behaviour.