A Newcastle man carried out two violent attacks on his partner and left her feeling "permanently disfigured".
Shaun Moules injured the woman's back using a key and knocked her tooth out in one assault, before going on to stamp on her body and kick her in the face during a second attack. At one stage, the 42-year-old was also preparing to hit her with a "large glass ornament" before police turned up to arrest him.
Moules, of Campbell Place, Elswick, Newcastle, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court via link from HMP Durham on Tuesday to be sentenced for two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He had pleaded guilty to the offences.
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The court heard that Moules had been in a relationship with the woman - a recovering alcoholic - for around seven years by the time the first assault was carried out on December 7 2021. Moules had been with friends in a flat when he started "berating" his partner.
Judge Sarah Mallett, said: "You started berating her and calling her abusive names and making accusations. She asked you to leave and she went to bed, but you followed her and used a key to cause a scratch on her back. You then punched her and she can't remember what happened after."
The court heard that the woman then managed to get downstairs and called her mum, who went on to call the police. When police arrived, the woman was found with "nasty injuries", including abrasions to her back, a cut on the bridge of her nose and a tooth had been knocked out. Moules was subsequently released on bail but offended again on July 4 last year.
Moules, who was no longer in a relationship with the woman, had gone to the flat of a mutual friend and was drinking alcohol. He then persuaded the friend to invite the woman over. When she arrived, Moules hid in a bedroom before surprising her.
Judge Mallett said at first there was a "good mood" between everyone, but it wasn't long before Moules turned aggressive once again. She said: "After more alcohol you gradually became more aggressive and abusive to her, accusing her of infidelity. An assault then took place."
The court was told Moules then launched an attack on the woman. Judge Mallett added: "You stamped on her head twice with a lot of force and you were heard to say you were going to kill her." Moules backhanded the woman, tore her pyjamas off, kicked her in the face and stamped on her body throughout the attack which lasted around 20 minutes before police arrived.
The court heard that Moules was about to hit the woman with a "large glass ornament" when police arrived. In a victim statement, the woman said she was left feeling "vulnerable, scared and terrified" as well as feeling "permanently disfigured" by the loss of her tooth and the injuries caused to her back.
Prosecutor, Vincent Ward, said there was an "established pattern of violence" against the woman and that Moules had received an extended prison sentence in 2010 for section 18 assault.
Richard Herrmann, defending, said Moules had not planned to attack the woman in the second incident and said he wanted to apologise for his actions. Reading a letter out to the judge, Moules tearfully said: "I am deeply sorry for the pain and hurt caused to her and her family. I am ashamed and express complete remorse for my wrongdoing and understand the need for punishment."
Judge Mallett passed an extended prison sentence of five years, four years of which will be custodial. A 10-year restraining order was also imposed.
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