A MAN with a history of domestic violence threatened to "welly it" out of his battered partner after she inadvertently helped with his arrest.

Dean Syson's girlfriend's injuries were seen by police when officers went to their home in Thornaby to arrest him for stealing a van the previous day.

It emerged the 42-year-old punched her and dragged her across their lounge carpet before banging her head against the bathroom door days earlier.

She suffered a large bruise on her right side, bloodshot and bruised eyes, carpet burns across her back and a puncture wound to her neck.

Syson was jailed at Teesside Crown Court for 20 months after admitting assault, actual bodily harm, damage, taking a vehicle without consent and driving without a licence and insurance.

The court heard how Syson, of Redcar Road, Thornaby, had taken sleeping tablets and drinking before the July attack.

He was only arrested after the owner of a stolen Vauxhall Combo discovered where it was being kept nearby, knocked on the door and was given the keys by Syson's unknowing partner.

The police were called and as Syson was being taken he yelled "I'm going to welly it out of her", Yvonne Taylor, prosecuting, said.

It was then police learned of Syson's assault on his girlfriend.

The court heard that the woman, a victim of earlier assaults by her boyfriend and a previous partner, forgives Syson and wants him back.

Liam O'Brien, mitigating, said Syson's partner had been a stabilising influence, but it was not uncommon for there to he heated rows because of alcohol.

"He is not a man incapable of change," said Mr O'Brien. "He has changed considerably since he was a younger man, with the support of the complainant."

The court heard how the keys of the van had been left in the driver door pocket by the owner when it was taken from outside his home on July 2.

Judge Howard Crowson told Syson: “You blamed the victim after you attacked her. Your history is of constantly assaulting partners. It is about time you learned that the court will not tolerate it.

“It may be that she forgives you and takes you back. If that is the case and something happens again I hope you come back to the crown court and get a considerably longer sentence.”