A drunken Peterlee dad violently attacked his partner while dishing out menacing threats after celebrating a birthday.
Dad-of-three, Jamie Storey had been drinking whiskey during the birthday party on April 1, last year.
But later that night an intoxicated Storey suddenly turned violent and subjected his partner of seven-years to a "violent and sustained" attack, that saw him "slam" her head off the floor while grabbing onto her hair.
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Storey continued the brutal assault despite a family member attempting to intervene.
Storey, 28, of Oakerside Drive, Peterlee, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Wednesday to be sentenced for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He pleaded guilty to the offence at the hearing, one day before his trial was due to begin.
Celebrating birthday
Amy Levitt, prosecuting, said on the day of the offence, the family had been celebrating a birthday and had friends and family round - but in the early hours of the morning, Storey turned violent.
"At around 1am, the defendant was in drink and began shouting at her", she said.
"He slammed a door and pushed her away, causing her to stumble. He then pushed her with full force, causing her to trip and hit her back and shoulder against the door."
Storey continued to push his partner, and even pushed a family member who tried to intervene.
'Lunged'
When the woman went into the living room, he followed behind before throwing a mobile phone and a child's bicycle at her.
He then "lunged" at her and began "smashing items" up.
The woman managed to run outside but Storey followed her, and then "grabbed her by her ponytail" while spouting degrading language and continuing to assault her.
When she managed to run back into the home, Storey followed, before he "grabbed her by the throat" and then "grabbing hold of her hair and dragging her onto the landing".
Slammed head off floor
The court heard that Storey then told her: "Do you want to know what real pain feels like?", before he grabbed her ponytail and again and "slammed her head off the floor several times".
The woman managed to run away again, before Storey "caught her", saying "I will kill you one of these days".
The police then arrived and he was arrested, but denied assaulting her, despite leaving her with injuries, one of which left her requiring a "support brace" on her arm.
The court heard Storey had two previous convictions for three offences, including assaulting a police officer.
'Saw red'
In mitigation, a probation report which was carried out said Storey was "drinking a great amount of alcohol", which included whiskey.
The report said he "saw red" after the woman allegedly mentioned a "relationship" she had had with one of Storey's family members.
Storey was said to have "no recollection" of what happened but was "ashamed" of his actions.
The report said that Storey had lost his employment during lockdown and had "depression and mental health issues" and was no longer in a relationship with the woman.
The report added that the relationship between the two was "unhealthy" and that Storey "felt like a slave" and had also witnessed domestic violence as a child.
Lewis Kerr, defending, said Storey had "significant remorse" for what he did.
Jailed
Judge Ray Singh said the case was "a very serious matter", calling it a "violent and sustained incident fuelled by alcohol".
"You degraded and humiliated her in your language", he added.
Storey was jailed for 20 months.
