A St. George’s man narrowly escaped prison after admitting to breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s home and attacking her repeatedly — while she held their two-year-old son in her arms.

Crown counsel Paula Tyndale told Magistrates’ Court, Chae Simmons, 30, became violently jealous after suspecting his son’s mother, Chantal Darrell, 23, was seeing another man. The court heard the two had an intimate relationship during the last four years before it ended a year ago after constant arguments that often resulted in violence.

Since then, Simmons, of Talavera Lane, had been trying to rekindle the relationship, without success, but regularly visited her home to see their son.

On April 26, while Darrell was visiting a friend’s house in St. George’s, Simmons appeared outside on his motorcycle and drove it towards her and demanded the whereabouts of their son. During the confrontation, he took off his helmet and swung it at her, but she was not hit. He then fled the scene and she called Police, who could not locate him when they arrived.

On May 5, Simmons called her house asking to speak to their son. However, when he heard a man’s voice in the background, he hung-up the phone and sped over to her apartment.

Upon arrival, she refused to let him inside, but he was able to enter by removing a bedroom air-conditioner. He choked her using both of his hands, while she held their son in her arms, leaving her defenceless.

After releasing his grip, he swung his helmet at her, striking her on the cheek and slammed her head against a wall, telling her: “You’re lucky my son is here,” before exiting through the window.

Officers located and arrested Simmons later that day and took him to the Southside Police Station, where he was charged with the two offences.

In court, he said: “It was a domestic dispute between me and my son’s mother. Some of the facts have been fabricated, some things I did do. I’m sorry and it will never happen again.”

It was also revealed Simmons had pervious convictions for assault and grievous bodily harm dating back to 1995.

Acting Magistrate Justin Williams considered sending him to prison. However, he sentenced Simmons to six months at Westgate, suspended for 12 months.