A domestic violence thug who attacked his partner in bed has walked free from court.
Paul Leach woke up and started shouting at the victim and being verbally abusive before punching her and putting her in a headlock. A court heard she was left with a head injury and concussion symptoms following the attack.
The then-couple were in bed on the morning of February 7 last year when and the woman got up briefly around 7.30am before returning and was playing on her phone for a while. David Robinson-Young, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "The defendant woke up and began shouting at her and calling her names.
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"He got out of bed and sat next to her and he continued to verbally abuse her and punched her. As she tried to move out of his way she was screaming and crying.
"The defendant had her in a headlock and told her to stop screaming and began to punch her again, in the arm and back. The defendant then went back to bed and told her to wake him at 11am."
The victim said in an impact statement: "This has made me scared to be in my own home. I'm scared to answer my front door or leave the house on my own. This has had a massive impact on my mental health and confidence."
Leach, 39, of Scrogg Road, Walker, Newcastle, who has 38 previous convictions but nothing since 2012, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was sentenced to nine months suspended for 18 months and must attend a building better relationships programme and pay £480 costs. He was also given a restraining order which forbids him from contacting the victim or going to her home in Gateshead.
The court heard there had been a hearing at the magistrates' court to determine the basis on which Leach was to be sentenced. The woman had said she was punched ten times but JPs found it was five and they found he did not attempt to strangle her.
Nick Lane, defending, said: "He does accept raising his hands and striking her and he now accepts he was wrong to do so and very much regrets his actions. He wishes no more than for her to be allowed to move on with her life and for him to be able to do the same."
Mr Lane added that there was a history of domestic abuse in his childhood home and said: "He describes himself as a very angry young man."
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