Ben Butler trial: Man accused of daughter's murder 'carried out vicious assaults on ex-girlfriend'

On trial: Ben Butler is accused of killing his daughter Ellie and staging her death
David Crump/Daily Mail
Sebastian Mann10 May 2016
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A London man accused of beating his six-year-old daughter to death carried out two vicious assaults on an ex-girlfriend years before, jurors have been told.

Jobless Ben Butler, 36, admitted a string of attacks in public between 2004 and 2010 including ones against Hannah Hillman, the court heard.

In one on August 20 2005, Butler had left a Croydon nightclub with Ms Hillman after they got into an argument, the court heard.

In a nearby car park at 12.40am, Butler pushed her to the ground and "straddled her" until police arrived and arrested him.

The couple both appeared to be drunk, while Ms Hillman suffered grazes to her back and arm. Butler later pleaded guilty to common assault.

The outlining of the previous convictions came as details of an allegedly violent and abusive relationship with another woman were revealed in a series of graphic text messages read out to the Old Bailey trial.

Mr Butler, 36, allegedly murdered his daughter Ellie while home in Sutton alone with her and another child in October 2013 after months of abusive and violent behaviour mainly directed at Jennie Gray.

The couple's dysfunctional relationship was laid bare in messages sent between January and March 2013.

According to the messages, Gray got pregnant and lost an unborn baby boy following what she described as a "f***ed abortion", while Butler raged about having to look after Ellie at home.

On January 16, he expressed his "disgust" that Gray was pregnant again, saying: "It's irresponsible and shocking... Had enough of ur weight and looks and the trouble you bring (sic)."

Days later, she complained at his lack of support and he responded: "You bitch whore .. Six years, at court .. Jail ...don't text me going to explode .. "

The rowing continued into February with Butler telling his partner: "We need to talk later. This isn't working. Am constantly not happy here. U don't make me happy. If you knew ud leave me b. Can't stand u.. U annoy me and every morn U make me misr. Die."

Then on March 15, the texts suggest that Butler attacked Gray, locking her out of their home while she was bleeding badly, the court heard.

The next day, as she was going to hospital, Butler pleaded with her to talk to him while insisting "this is partly your fault".

Gray replied: "U threw me out after what else U did. As God is my witness I will never forget. I am bleeding bad still and made worse.

"I wish I never wake up every morning..... U R hurt - what u done is by miles worse. Leave me be."

She went on: "I am bleeding and ignoring it and pain. All for U, pretending u didn't make me kill a baby u didn't want. Pretending. I won't forgive u. I wish I was dead.

"U kicked me out on doorstep after everything u did to me and then f***ing blame me. I am to blame for not turning u on or being sexy enough and do not doing what u want."

Butler told her: "You'll never be wot I need and I can't give u wot you want . As mates we r ok....I don't want to b bad that's truth.. Truth u not up to it and neva made an effort. I can't live wiv the boredom I have wiv u as a partner . Get u sorted, bye."

The court has heard how Butler and Gray got Ellie back home in the autumn of 2012 after his conviction for shaking her as a baby was quashed. Eleven months later, she was dead.

Butler denies murder while both defendants, of Sutton, south-west London, deny child cruelty. Gray, 36, has admitted perverting the course of justice in the wake of Ellie's death.

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