A drunken dad threated to stab his heavily pregnant partner in the neck with a pint glass during a relationship marred by domestic violence.
Stewart Morrison slapped his former partner, "squeezed" her neck, and called her degrading names between January and March this year, leaving her terrified about the safety of her unborn child. The 41-year-old, who was described as looking "crazy" by the woman, also pressed a pint glass on her neck and threatened to stab her during one violent incident.
On Tuesday, Morrison appeared at Durham Crown Court to be sentenced for assault by beating and affray. He pleaded guilty to the charges at a previous hearing.
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Martin Towers, prosecuting, said the woman had been in a relationship with Morrison since the beginning of last year and was in the later stages of pregnancy with his child when the offences were committed. He said the child has since been born and the first offence was committed on January 31 amid a "background of increasing tension".
Mr Towers said: "The defendant came home extremely drunk and began arguing with her about the location of cigarettes. He lost his temper and was throwing mayonnaise around the kitchen and calling her a s***. He squeezed her neck, causing difficulty in her breathing and he slapped her face with considerable force. He slapped her again and she ran upstairs to call 999."
The court was told that Morrison, of Sandbach, Great Lumley, was not arrested, and he went on to attack the woman again on March 10 after he followed her into her home while calling her a "grass". Mr Towers said: "He swiped a fish tank and it fell to the floor and smashed. He continued shouting at her, saying he was going to stab her in the neck."
The woman, who was seven months pregnant at the time, described Morrison as looking "crazy" and that his "eyes looked dead" during the outburst. He then pushed her to the floor before he picked up a Fosters pint glass and "pressed it on to her neck saying he was going to stab her in the neck". The woman bravely managed to punch him off her and she ran into the garden. Morrison, who had five previous convictions which were committed some time ago, also ran away, but was later arrested.
Lewis Kerr, defending, said Morrison was currently out of work and did not make any further representations after the judge said he would not send him straight to prison.
Sentencing Morrison, Judge James Adkin, the Recorder of Durham, said it was clear he has a "huge problem with drink" and was "the sort of man that thinks it's acceptable to bully women when drunk". He said despite the seriousness of the offences, the age of Morrison's previous convictions and his early guilty pleas meant he could suspend a prison sentence.
Morrison was given a six month prison sentence, suspended for two years and was ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation activity days and an alcohol treatment requirement. He was also made subject of a four month curfew between 7pm and 7am.
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