A number of criminals across the North East have been convicted this month of terrorising their partner or ex-partners.
Some have been violent towards their victims while others have continuously contacted them or turned up at their home. The sentences which they have received at court have ranged from years in prison to a community order.
In one shocking case, a 22 stone man sat on his girlfriend, punched her and choked her. Another bully broke his disabled girlfriend's arm during a disgraceful campaign of cruelty.
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Here are some of the defendants who have been convicted during the month of August:
David Francis
The 36-year-old hit his ex-partner in the head with a glass, bit her and dislocated her ribs during a violent attack that left her covered in blood.
Durham Crown Court heard how Francis carried out the assault after she woke him up and accused him of cheating on her. He punched her around 10 times in the face, before kicking and punching her after she slipped on her own blood and fell to the floor.
Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said at around 10pm on March 8, Francis and the woman - who were in a relationship at the time - were at her County Durham home after drinking alcohol and taking tablets.
He said: "The defendant was asleep when the complainant found messages on his phone which suggested he was cheating. She woke him up and they then argued. He punched her approximately 10 times in the face and she called 999."
Francis continued his violent attack when the woman removed his lager from the fridge. Mr Newcombe said: "He struck her on the back of the head with a drinks glass. Blood was dripping to the floor and she slipped and fell. He then kicked her in the leg and punched her in the ribs. He also bit her right arm as she screamed at him."
The court in Durham heard how he delivered one more punch before leaving. Mr Newcombe said the woman sustained fractures to two of her right ribs as well as suffering dislocation to others. She also had a punctured lung and was taken to hospital to receive treatment to her rib injuries, as well as lacerations to her mouth and multiple bruises.
The defendant carried out the attack while still serving a suspended prison sentence. The previous sentence had been imposed in 2020 for a dangerous driving offence, which saw him smash into a wall.
Mr Newcombe said Francis was also to be sentenced for biting two police officers on February 2 last year outside Bishop Auckland Hospital on Cockton Hill Road in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.
Police were called to the road shortly before midnight after reports Francis was "behaving erratically, threatening members of the public and trying to get into passing cars". He said that when police arrived, he threatened to "kick off" before biting two officers who attempted to arrest him.
No injury was caused and Francis said he had no recollection of the offence after drinking a bottle of gin. Francis, of Elm Terrace, Bishop Auckland, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.
Jessica Slaughter, defending, told the court how Francis has had issues with drugs and alcohol in the past and has "significant health and mobility issues" following the incident where he crashed into a wall.
She said: "He is a man who is suffering from chronic pain" and is "keen to stay away from drugs now". She said he was in a "very distressed state" when he assaulted the police officers. She added that the former relationship he was in with the woman he attacked was "toxic" and needed to end.
The Recorder of Durham, Judge James Adkin, jailed Francis for 49 months and imposed a 10 year restraining order, banning contact with his ex-partner.
Michael Kerrigan
The bullying brute dragged his disabled girlfriend through broken glass and broke her arm during a disgraceful campaign of cruelty.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how the 44-year-old was a carer for his victim, who used a wheelchair and needed help with day to day living after she lost the use of all four of her limbs.
The court heard how he could be "kind and considerate" in his care but at other times he called her names designed to "humiliate and degrade" her and left her with painful injuries.
Susannah Proctor, prosecuting, told the court how the first attack left the victim bleeding. She said: "There was an argument and he smashed a glass ashtray on the floor. He pulled her off the settee and dragged her through the glass."
Miss Proctor said the wounds on the victim's back from the glass bled and become infected and when Kerrigan took her medical treatment he told her to lie about what happened, which she did due to fear of him.
In a second shocking attack, Kerrigan knelt on the victim's arms as she lay on her bed, while "shouting and spitting" in her face, and caused one arm to break. The court in Newcastle heard how despite complaining of pain afterwards, it was three days before the victim received hospital treatment for the injury.
Ms Proctor said he was reported after a visitor made a secret recording on her phone of Kerrigan's verbal abuse towards the victim in her home. But she added: "While in custody he rang her from prison to try and get her to drop the case against him and blame the injuries she sustained on her son."
In a victim impact statement, the woman said she was "scared, anxious and frightened" of what Kerrigan would do but added he could be "kind, considerate and patient" during their relationship too. Kerrigan, of St Cuthberts Avenue, South Shields, admitted controlling and coercive behaviour and two charges of assault.
Judge Clemitson said she accepted there were days when Kerrigan was "kind and considerate" but added: "That can in no way excuse the cruel and bullying nature of the abuse on the days you were not being kind and considerate. You are capable of behaving like a decent human being.
"Unfortunately, the behaviour I must sentence you for is very far from what one would expect from a decent human being. This was a prolonged period of deeply unpleasant behaviour and two particularly nasty and cruel assaults."
Jane Foley, defending, said the couple's relationship was "happy" at the start but added: "There was a lot of frustration, probably on both sides, a lot of tension because he was her carer, doing everything for her. He was also having to go to work, with little sleep. He was suffering but didn't ask for any help, which is what he should have done. The relationship deteriorated and deteriorated." Ms Foley told the court how Kerrigan is an industrious man who has worked as a scrap metal merchant and in flooring and added: "He does regret his behaviour".
During his sentencing hearing, Judge Julie Clemitson sentenced Kerrigan, who has 119 previous convictions, to three years in prison. She also issued a restraining order to keep him away from the victim.
She said: "It is hard to imagine a more vulnerable victim of domestic violence, a woman without use of her limbs, reliant on a wheelchair and dependent upon you to take care of her daily needs."
Kevin Cavanagh
The hulking 6ft 8 brute weighing 22-stone sat on his girlfriend and punched and choked her while making death threats in a dispute over phones.
The 57-year-old had confiscated his partner's mobile in an apparent act of jealousy so she threw his device out of the window. After going to retrieve it, he launched a sustained attack on her which left her covered in blood and with a broken nose. The victim thought she was going to die as Cavanagh assaulted her and warned she would not get out alive.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how they had been in a "fairly tempestuous" on-off relationship for around four years. There had been "quite a number of issues" but she kept quiet about most of them because she would have struggled to find somewhere else to live. She had move out for periods but by January 23 this year she was back at his home. They had been consuming alcohol and trouble suddenly flared.
Neil Jones, prosecuting, told the court: "She was looking at her phone around 7pm and this appeared to aggravate him and he took her phone from her and was not going to give it back.
"He went to bed with her phone. She presumed there was some sort of jealousy in relation to a friend she had been texting. In frustration, she took his phone and threw it out of the window and told him to get it from outside. He did get it and when he came back she was on the sofa.
"He grabbed her by the back of her dressing gown and threw her to the ground and sat on top of her, repeatedly punching and slapping her to the head.
"He was quite a big man, around 22 stone, so she was helpless and feared for her life. He then wrapped his hand around her throat and squeezed hard, saying 'You are not going to leave here alive' and 'I'm going to slit your throat'.
"She thought she was going to die and begged to go to the toilet. He said 'No you're not getting out alive'."
The court in Newcastle heard how the attack lasted around 20 minutes and by the end of it she was covered in blood, had bruising to her face, neck and chest and a broken nose. Her blood was also "all over the flat".
In a victim impact statement, the woman said: "This made me fear for my life. I believed he was going to kill me due to his actions. It made me petrified and I'm having flashbacks. I was in agonising pain around my face and body." The court heard how she sought refuge at her dad's home afterwards after fleeing bare foot in her dressing gown and he saw her in her injured state.
Cavanagh, of Palatine Place, Dunston, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and threats to kill.
Tony Davis, defending, told the court: "He has to accept it was a very unpleasant piece of spontaneous domestic violence which was driven, undoubtedly by him consuming far too much alcohol that day. He is of good character and has led a blameless existence hitherto and is in full-time employment."
Judge Penny Moreland jailed Cavanagh, who has no previous convictions, for 32 months.
Dameon Craven
The 43-year-old subjected his ex-partner to a "prolonged and nasty" assault and punched her repeatedly in the face.
Durham Crown Court heard how Craven carried out a drunken attack on his partner despite being banned from contacting her due to be subject to a restraining order. He then went on to dangerously pull the handbrake on as they were travelling in a car a week later.
Neil Jones, prosecuting, said Craven had been drinking before he carried out a violent assault that saw him spit at the woman before he repeatedly punched her in the face and the left eye area at her home in County Durham on December 13 last year.
A week later, on December 21, Craven "endangered" the woman when he pulled on the handbrake as the pair argued while she drove the car. He then went on to damage the car after throwing a Prosecco bottle at it.
The court in Durham heard how he breached the restraining order when he went to her home. When police turned up to arrest him, he "slammed a door" into a police officer's hand.
Craven, of Willow Crescent, Blyth, Northumberland, pleaded guilty to assault, causing actual bodily harm, criminal damage, endangering road users and assaulting an emergency worker.
He also admitted breaches of a restraining order between December last year and mid-January this year.
Kate Barnes, defending, said Craven, who had 34 previous convictions for 53 offences, was "an extremely courteous and articulate man" who had an issue with alcohol. She said he was an offshore worker who hoped to address his drinking.
Earlier this month, The Recorder of Durham, Judge James Adkin, sentenced Craven to 29 months behind bars. He told him that he had carried out a "prolonged and nasty incident" and the abusive relationship left the woman with "low self-esteem". The judge said: "You don't seem to be able to stop attacking and abusing this particular woman".
He added: "When sober and in person you seem to be able to work effectively". Judge Adkin extended the restraining order to make it for life.
James Sharpe
The drunken dad viciously attacked his ex-partner before punching her mother when she tried to intervene following a row over child maintenance.
Durham Crown Court heard how the 31-year-old crack-cocaine user slapped his former partner when she turned up at his home and asked him for £100 child maintenance on July 23.
Christopher Bevan, prosecuting, told the court: "The defendant was in drink and gave her £30. She got the impression he was more interested in spending money on drink rather than their child and an argument ensued. With substantial force, he then slapped her causing her to bleed from her lip."
The court heard how the woman left but, around four-and-a-half hours later on July 24, Sharpe turned up at her home uninvited. Mr Bevan said: "He let himself into the property without permission and continued to assault her and damage property. She was asleep when she woke to find him standing over her.
"She asked him to leave and when he took her by the neck she pushed him out to the street and called 999. The defendant then took a child's bike and threw it against the door, causing damage to the plastic."
The court in Durham heard how Sharpe rode off on his own bike whilst threatening to hurt her parents. Mr Bevan said the woman later saw Sharpe climbing over her neighbour's fence before he "forcefully kicked in" her door while she was still on the phone to police.
He added: "The defendant took her phone and smashed it by stamping on it. He then punched her 10 times, causing heavy bleeding from her nose and lips. She was on the floor as he stamped on and kicked her head and body." The court heard how the woman's finger was broken during the attack and she sustained other injuries.
Mr Bevan said the woman's mother, who lives on the same street, heard her daughter's screams and went over to see Sharpe kicking into her. As she tried to pull her daughter free, Sharpe punched her to the back of the head. Police arrived to arrest Sharpe, as he attempted to make off, and his former partner was taken to hospital.
The police soon arrived to arrest Sharpe as he attempted to make off before his former partner was taken to hospital.
Sharpe, of Plunkett Terrace, Pelton Fell, County Durham, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal damage and assault by beating.
Lewis Kerr, defending, said: "This defendant pleaded guilty and recognises this appalling behaviour crosses the custody threshold. When not in drink, he is somebody who is described as a good father. His behaviour was unacceptable and he regrets it, he knows it will harm his relationship with his former partner and their child. He has crack-cocaine and alcohol issues and it may be a case where he can be managed in the community."
The Recorder of Durham, Judge James Adkin, called Sharpe a "repeated domestic abuser" and said he had previous convictions for harassment, common assault and breach of a restraining order. He jailed Sharpe for 28 months and made him subject to a 10-year restraining order.
Matthew McPolin
The violent brute attacked his terrified partner with a mop handle then came back and burst through her window armed with a knife.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how the 21-year-old had known the victim since they were at school. They had been in a relationship for around four months at the time.
On the night of April 18, they went to a friend's house and were drinking and everything seemed fine. But when they got home the woman was scrolling through Facebook when McPolin's behaviour suddenly changed.
Emma Dowling, prosecuting, told the court: "The defendant barged into the bedroom and he had a metal pole. He says she struck him first. He hit her with the metal pole, which was the handle of a mop. He took the mop head off and struck her to the face, causing her an injury, a substantial red mark to the cheek. She had substantial pain to the jaw."
McPolin also smashed her TV despite her begging him not to. He then punched the bedroom window before jumping out. Around 15 minutes later, he returned and she could hear banging and smashing and him screaming to be let in at the back of her home.
He punched, kicked and threw bricks at the window, smashing the living room and a panel in the back door, causing interior panels to come off. McPolin managed to break through the window and she saw he had a large 10-inch blade in his clothing and he was shouting and waving the knife around screaming: "I'm going to kill people".
Ms Dowling said: "She was terrified. He started damaging things in the kitchen and pulled and dragged her to the floor. He sat next to her after pulling her to the floor and said 'Eee who's hit you, I will do them in' and acted as if nothing had happened. He then jumped out of the window again. She says the whole incident lasted around 45 minutes."
The victim, who later saw McPolin posing with the knife on a Snapchat video, was left with swelling to her jaw, couldn't open her mouth properly and had a red mark to her cheek from the pole and pain to her forehead.
Several items were damaged, including the TV, windows, a kettle and toaster. In a victim impact statement, she said she was "petrified" and "terrified he would use the knife on me".
McPolin, of Hawthorn Terrace, Elswick, Newcastle, has 20 previous convictions and was on a suspended sentence at the time of the offence. He admitted affray, using violence to secure entry to premises, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possessing a bladed article and criminal damage.
The court heard how McPolin has some learning difficulties and metal health issues and is a long-term drug user. Penny Hill, defending, said: "He removed the pole from her when she hit him with it and hit her. He accepts it was not in self-defence. They were arguing about his house key, which he wanted back and she would not give him the key. He accepts he behaved as he should not have done."
McPolin was jailed for 19 months.
Darren Wild
The 28-year-old violently attacked his girlfriend as she held a baby before "stomping" on her as she lay on the floor.
Durham Crown Court heard how he unleashed a terrifying attack on his then-partner after returning home drunk with a bottle of whiskey and cans of lager. Wild became verbally abusive to her and punched her in the head numerous times as she held a baby.
The attack caused the woman to assume a foetal position on the floor as Wild continued to kick and stamp on her before he tipped over a TV and left.
Christopher Wood, prosecuting, said at around 6.45pm on November 20 last year, Wild was living with his then-partner and had returned home with a bottle of whiskey and cans of lager after drinking in Durham city centre. The court was told that Wild attempted to "conceal" his drinks from the woman and she was "not happy with the state he was in".
Dr Wood said: "The defendant become verbally abusive and he was told to leave. He then went to make some food in the kitchen as the complainant was on the settee holding a baby. The defendant came back and began to punch her several times in the head using both fists. She ended up on the floor in the foetal position and the defendant stopped punching her and began stomping on her head and arm, causing a cut to her head."
Following the vicious attack, Wild told the woman he was leaving and pulled over a TV, causing it to smash on the floor. He then said: "I'm going to come back for you and I'll f*** your granda up". The woman was later taken to hospital to be treated for a 2cm cut in her head.
In police interview, Wild claimed she had attacked him. The court heard he had four previous convictions for five offences, including dangerous driving in 2020. He had no previous convictions for assault or criminal damage.
Wild, of Sherburn Road, Durham, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage.
Adam Scott, defending, agreed Wild carried out "unconscionable violence" and said he was a man who had "not acted in a violent way before". He said: "He is genuinely, deeply remorseful and is genuinely shocked and ashamed. It was out of character for him to behave in such a violent manner. He was no recollection of the incident as he was so intoxicated. Since then, he has recognised his problem, and that is drink."
Earlier this month, The Recorder of Durham jailed him for 14 months. Judge James Adkin said Wild had "crossed the line" when he attacked the woman as she held on to a baby.
Martin Puzylo
The stalker bombarded his ex-partner with unwanted messages and cycled past her house. He left her feeling "scared" and constantly looking over her shoulder.
The 46-year-old contacted the woman on eight occasions via letter, emails and other messages between May 1 and October 11 last year - despite their relationship ending in 2013. He also rode a bike past the woman's home, which left her feeling "concerned at what he's capable of".
Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard how the couple had split up in 2013. But after their relationship ended, the defendant "bombarded her with messages on various platforms". During his offending, the defendant made "repeated and unwanted contact with the victim", including over Facebook and other social media.
The court was told that in May last year, Puzylo sent the woman a letter saying he needed to speak to her and that she should contact him, but a month later after no reply, he rode a bicycle past her County Durham home before he set up a Facebook account and added her. The court heard that unwanted emails were also sent and that in total there were eight occasions where Puzylo contacted her.
In a victim impact statement, which was read out in court, the woman said: "I don't think that he will ever leave me alone. I'm concerned about what he's capable of...I'm always looking over my shoulder. He has destroyed my confidence and I am no longer the person I was." She added: "I want him to leave me alone, it seems like he's always in the background, lurking unexpectedly."
Puzylo, of Wingrove Gardens, Fenham, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to stalking. He was given a 10-week prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to pay £213 costs.
Gerry Armstrong, defending, said Puzylo was a "lonely man" who lived an "isolated life" and said he was attempting to contact the woman as he wanted "one answer" regarding a question he had. He said Puzylo was also unaware she did not want to speak to him.
Mr Armstrong said: "Nobody ever told him she didn't want to speak to him. He told me: 'I wanted someone to say to me she didn't want to hear from me'. He added that there was "nothing threatening or violent in his messages" to her and said Puzylo has a "background of mental health" issues.
Campbell Forster
The drunk dad punched his ex-girlfriend in the face and assaulted her mother after he refused to leave her home in Newcastle.
The 32-year-old had repeatedly been asked to go by his former partner but flew into a rage and became verbally aggressive. Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard how his behaviour frightened the women so much that she rang her mum, who soon turned up at the address to help.
However, Forster refused to calm down or leave the premises, forcing the older woman to try and ring the police. But, in a fit of booze-fuelled rage, Forster had other ideas and "slapped" the mobile from her hands.
Forster then turned his attention to his ex, who, in fear of violence from him, slapped him across the face. It prompted Forster to lash out further and he punched the terrified woman to the side of the head.
The court in Newcastle heard how Forster and the victim had split up when he attended her house on January 30 this year and refused to leave when asked. As a result, she rang her mother and asked her to come and help remove her ex from her home.
Prosecutor, Claire Armstrong, said: "[The mother] tried to ring 999. There was an altercation between them and the defendant slapped the phone out of her hand. [Forster's ex] was in the living room. She described fearing immediate violence from the defendant as he was shouting in her face.
"She slapped the defendant across the face. The defendant took some steps backwards then lunged himself towards her and punched her to the right side of her head. The complainant says the defendant immediately started to deny the assault, despite her mother standing there."
The court was told that both victims were uninjured but the mother had been left "traumatised". In a statement, she added: "It's horrific to see my daughter abused by someone who is vile. I felt hurt by the incident, it was awful."
Forster, of Condercum Road, Benwell, Newcastle, initially told police he acted out of self-defence. He changed his mind and admitted what he'd done when he appeared in the dock to plead guilty to two counts of assault by beating.
Peter Doherty, defending, said Forster, who has seven offences on his record, had been suffering with issues with alcohol but had taken steps himself to address them. He added: "His drinking has dramatically reduced but he's not stopped completely."
District Judge Zoe Passfield fined him £180 and ordered him to pay £100 in compensation.
She said: "This could have been a great deal worse. This was an assault on the mother of your child in her own home while you were in drink. Were it not for the fact you have taken steps yourself to address your alcohol problem, I would have been asking for Probation to speak to you with a view to giving you a community order."
Forster was also made subject of a restraining order, which banned him from contacting his ex's mother for 12 months.
Nicholas Muckle
The 26-year-old dad was found having a cigarette in his ex-girlfriend's garden after he was banned from contacting her.
Muckle was made subject of a restraining order, which prohibited him from communicating with his former partner or attending the street in Killingworth where she lived, after he was convicted of assaulting her in October last year.
North Tyneside Magistrates' Court heard how, just two months later and despite also being on a community order, he couldn't resist temptation and turned up at her address.
The court in North Shields heard how officers soon attended after they received a report of a disturbance at the property and found the defendant in the back garden. It was quickly established he was subject to a restraining order and he was arrested.
Marc Atkins, prosecuting, said police attended the victim's address in Killingworth on December 15 last year after reports of a disturbance. Mr Atkins continued: "When they enter the property, the defendant is found in the back garden. They conducted checks and the restraining order comes to light.
"The defendant admitted being subject to the order. He was interviewed and admitted the breach in interview. The defendant was made subject of the restraining order in October last year following a convictions for battery and harassment of the injured party. The order remains in place until 2024."
Muckle, of Rowanberry Road, in Longbenton, pleaded guilty to breaching a restraining order.
The court heard how Muckle had been invited to the house by the victim to discuss their young son. Stuart Athey, defending, said: "He went over, her friend then came over and some alcohol was consumed. He doesn't remember a disturbance. He was outside talking to a neighbour and having a cigarette when police arrived."
Muckle was handed his second community order in just 10 months and ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.
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