A bully rendered his partner unconscious after he stamped on her head during a vicious attack.
Adam Taylor had been out drinking with his partner before an argument ensued upon returning to a home in Seaham. It was then that Taylor grabbed the woman by the hair and threw her to the floor before stamping on her face and leaving her "out cold".
Taylor, 30, of Brooklyn Street, Murton, County Durham, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Tuesday to be sentenced for assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He had pleaded guilty to the offence at a previous hearing.
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The court heard Taylor and his partner had been out drinking on August 28 this year, but began arguing upon returning to a home in Seaham. It was then that Taylor launched an attack.
Martin Towers, prosecuting, said: "The defendant grabbed her hair and pulled her to the ground and stamped on her face. She was out cold for about a minute. A resident at that address heard a noise and came out to investigate and saw the defendant briefly return. The defendant tried to lift her up and she didn't want to go anywhere with him. He then left and the police were called by the witness." Taylor was soon arrested and gave a no comment interview, but the attack had been captured on CCTV.
The court was told the woman sustained a sore head and chest but did not seek medical treatment. Mr Towers added the woman later withdrew her co-operation for the investigation and she remains in a relationship with Taylor - she appeared at the court in support of him. Taylor had 45 previous convictions, including for battery and assault.
Jennifer Coxon, defending, said Taylor "does not shy away from his previous convictions", some of which have resulted in previous prison sentences. She said: "Despite being an awful incident, his partner has remained supportive of him and is here in the public gallery today. She has been residing with the defendant and they have been in a relationship nearly three years. She maintains this is the first physical altercation between them." Ms Coxon added Taylor is out of work due to mental health issues.
Sentencing Taylor, Judge Jo Kidd said he carried out a "callous attack" and behaved in a "thoroughly aggressive way". She said: "It is clear you were being bullying and aggressive to her in the lead up to the offence. The level of violence you used was deliberate and intentional." Taylor was jailed for 20 months.
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