A MAN with a record for violence, went “berserk” on finding his on/off partner at the home of a male friend.

Durham Crown Court was told John Clemenson began knocking on windows at the property in Bishop Auckland, late on November 12.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, said his now ex-partner described him opening the door, before, “he went berserk”, in the passage way, accusing her of being, “a f***ing slag”.

Clemenson began to choke her and attempts were made to pacify him.

But he again went into a rage in the kitchen, pushing her to the floor where he punched and kicked her, causing bruising and swelling, despite her efforts to cover her face.

When the attacked ceased, Clemenson shouted he would kill her as he ran from the house wrongly thinking that the police were at the door.

Mr Baker said officers did turn up a short time later and it was discovered Clemenson had also ripped hair from her head and smashed the woman’s mobile phone.

The victim said the terrifying ordeal lasted up to four minutes, during which she was left with bruising, swellings and soreness about her head and parts of the body.

Clemenson turned up again at the house later, by which time she had been taken to a place of safety.

He kicked at some of the doors, causing damage, but he was arrested and police described him as being in a heavily intoxicated state.

Clemenson, 38, formerly of Bishop Auckland, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage, on the day of his trial, before magistrates, on December 20.

His his record includes past offences for violence, damaging property, plus public disorder.

Mr Baker said he was jailed for 14 months in January last year, but he was released on licence in September, weeks before the incident.

Paul Newcombe, in mitigation, said Clemenson, who struggled with drugs during the relationship, is now “ashamed” of his actions that night.

Mr Newcombe said on the night of the incident Clemenson had been drinking heavily in a local pub where he was assaulted, and he has no recollection of subsequent events .

Imposing a 32-month prison sentence, and putting in place a five-year restraining order forbidding contact with his ex-partner, Judge James Adkin told Clemenson: “You have a bad record for using violence and you were on licence at the time.”

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