A Tyneside thug with a history of violence against women was spotted dragging his screaming girlfriend around in the street.
Mark Thompson had turned up at the victim's South Shields address in a taxi and was described as being in an "angry mood" as he got out the vehicle. Newcastle Crown Court heard that the woman's former partner was seen leaving the address before an argument erupted between the pair inside.
Prosecutors said that a witness then saw Thompson, who was on licence from prison at the time, drag the woman out the property and into the street and pull her around while she was screaming. The 39-year-old then pushed her back inside, where the screams continued.
Thompson, who has 89 offences on his record, including for violence against a former partner, was arrested and initially pleaded not guilty to one count each of common assault and possession of a bladed article. The case was listed for trial but the dad later changed his plea to the assault allegation and the bladed article charge was dropped.
Christopher Bevan, prosecuting, said Thompson, of Randolph Street, in Jarrow, attended the victim's home in a taxi on September 16 2021 and was observed by a witness to be in an "angry mood". Mr Bevan continued: "There was only one witness as [the victim] didn't provide a statement and didn't support the prosecution.
"The witness saw the defendant get out the taxi. He appeared angry and he saw the victim come out the address with another male and observed the other male get into a taxi and leave. The defendant shouted at [the victim] about why the other male was there. The defendant and the victim got into the house and the witness heard the argument continue while they were in there."
The court heard that Thompson was then seen to pull his girlfriend out of the house and drag her around on the ground outside while she was screaming. He then pushed her back into the address and the arguing and screaming continued, Mr Bevan said.
Anthony Pettengell, defending, said Thompson was on anti-depressants and didn't have the "greatest financial circumstances". The barrister added: "There has been no further incidents between them since this."
Giving Thompson a 12-month community order, with a £25 fine, Recorder Andrew Latimer said: "You don't need a judge to tell you that that is no way to treat any person, particularly not a partner and particularly not someone with whom you have children." The judge added: "Three things make matters in your case more serious.
"It's domestic violence, you were on licence from prison at the time and you have relevant, recent convictions for battery in domestic circumstances in 2013 and criminal damage against a partner's property in 2014. These raise the sentence considerably."
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