A man carried out a drunken assault on his partner as she was clutching a baby, a court was told.

But perpetrator Darren John Wild was said to have no recollection of the incident due to the amount of alcohol he had consumed that day.

Wild had been out in Durham drinking all day on Saturday, November 20 last year and came home early that evening with a bottle of whisky and some cans of lager, which he tried to conceal.

Durham Crown Court heard that he was verbally abusive to his partner who was unhappy at his condition and she told him to leave.

Read more: County Durham domestic violence perpetrator to be sentenced next month

Dr Chris Wood, prosecuting, said Wild, however, went into the kitchen to make some food.

But, he suddenly emerged from the kitchen and began to punch her with both fists as she was holding a baby, while sitting on the sofa.

Dr Wood said she tried to adopt a foetal position as the attack continued, but Wild then began to kick her, “stomping” on her head and arm, leaving her with a cut to the back of the head and heavy bruising on her arm.

The defendant then said he was leaving, but as he did so he pulled over the television set, causing it to smash.

He left uttering threats about coming back later to attack a member of his partner’s family.

Dr Wood said police were called by a family member at 6.45pm and on arrival escorted the victim to hospital where she was treated with medical gluing of the laceration to the rear of her head.

Police returning to the house the following day noted she was heavily bruised, particularly to one arm, and they also saw the damage to the tv set.

When arrested and interviewed Wild gave a prepared statement saying he was assaulted by his partner and left the property, claiming he was not responsible for any wrong-doing.

But the 28-year-old defendant, of Dragonville, Sherburn Road, Durham, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and causing criminal damage, in his appearance before magistrates, last month.

The case was sent to the crown court for sentence.

His sentencing hearing, today (Wednesday August 10) was told victim outlined to police that she already suffered with anxiety and depression and the incident would only exacerbate it, but Dr Wood said she declined to give a further impact statement and is not seeking a restraining order.

Wild’s most recent conviction was said to be for dangerous driving, arising from a police chase on roads around Durham, resulted in him receiving a prison sentence, in February 2020.

Read more: Defendant claimed he was not driving car during high-speed chase

Adam Scott, for Wild, told the court: “He’s a man who hasn’t acted in a violent way previously and who is genuinely, deeply remorseful.

“He’s deeply shock and ashamed and he says this was out of character.

“He has no memory of the incident because he was so intoxicated, which led him to behave in this way.

“The Probation Service consider him a low risk of re-offending but he needs to address his relationship and alcohol difficulties.

“He’s now a single man in supported accommodation, no longer living in a domestic setting with a partner or children,” added Mr Scott, who urged Judge James Adkin to pass a suspended sentence.

But Judge Adkin said: “It’s bad enough beating up your partner but kicking into her when she is holding a baby absolutely crosses the line.”

Imposing an immediate 14-month prison sentence, Judge Adkin told Wild: “If a drunken man attacks a woman clutching a baby, right-thinking members of the community must think it has to be custody.”

Read next:

County Durham man put ex-partner through prolonged violent incident

Jailing of man for prolonged attack among cases sentenced at Durham Crown Court in recent days

Four County Durham criminals hauled before Durham Crown Court last week

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