A MAN who admitted assaulting a former partner has gone back on claims it was in self-defence and has now been ordered to abstain from drinking alcohol for three months.

Anthony Bell was accused of grabbing the woman tightly with both hands round the neck and biting her in the incident, during a car journey, on October 31, last year.

The 36-year-old defendant, of Wansbeck Avenue, Stanley, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm at an initial appearance before magistrates.

His case was sent for sentence to Durham Crown Court, where he appeared on June 24, having brought up the issue of self-defence in mitigation for the attack.

Judge Ray Singh told his counsel, Kate Spence, that if her client stood by that account it would render his guilty plea, “equivocal”, and it may require a trial of issue, also called a Newton hearing

Having been asked by the judge to have a further word with her client, when the court reassembled Miss Spence said: “He doesn’t wish to vacate his plea.

“He accepts the Crown’s case and a Newton hearing will not be needed.

“He accepts there was a struggle where he intentionally bit her.

“As for grabbing and holding her throat, it’s his case he didn’t strangle her and no pressure was applied.”

Judge Singh adjourned that hearing and asked the Probation Service to assess if there was work it could do with the defendant to address his behaviour.

When the case returned to the court today (Friday July 15), prosecuting counsel, Matthew Hopkins read from the victim’s impact statement in which she said she was, “completely terrified”, of Bell because of the incident.

She said she feared him coming to her home and assaulting her again, adding that she remains in “constant pain” in the arm and throat, for which she has sought hospital treatment.

Mr Hopkins said, in the circumstances, a restraining order, “may be appropriate”.

Judge Singh agreed and made the order, forbidding Bell from contacting or approaching the woman for the next five years.

The judge described the attack as, “a serious incident”, but he said, providing there was, “no whiff”, of the defendant, “paying lip service”, to the whole procedure he could pass a suspended sentence to allow the Probation Service to work with him.

Imposing a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, he ordered Bell to undergo 40 probation-overseen rehabilitation activity days and attend a Building Better Relationships programme.

As the offence was said to have been committed while in drink, Judge Singh also passed an alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement, forbidding Bell from consuming alcohol for 90 days.

Read more: Murton man monitored for drink consumption for 120 days

Judge Singh told Bell: “Drink seems to be a trigger for your violent behaviour.

“A tag will be placed on you.

“If, at any time during the next 90 days you consume any alcohol, it will trigger that tag.”

He added: “You and I will then meet again, and I will lock you up for 12 months.”

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