Two men who carried out drunken domestic attacks on now former partners have both received prison sentences of more than two years each.

Appearing in successive, unrelated hearings at Durham Crown Court on Friday (August19), Dameon Craven was sentenced to 29-months imprisonment, while James Sharpe received a 28-month sentence.

Craven, 43, of Willow Crescent, Blyth, admitted assaulting his ex-partner, causing her actual bodily harm, criminal damage to her car and endangering road users, plus assaulting an emergency worker, pleas offered on the day of his scheduled trial earlier this month.

He also previously admitted seven breaches of a restraining order, between mid-December last year and mid-January this year.

Read more: Four County Durham criminals hauled before Durham Crown Court last week

Neil Jones, prosecuting, said the assault was a punch, knocking the woman to the ground, in a drunken confrontation at her home in Sherburn Village, where he should not have been as he was subject to the restraining order, in the early hours of December 13, last year.

Judge James Adkin described it as, “a prolonged and nasty incident”, causing bruising to the left eye lid.

A week later amid a row in her car, Craven pulled the hand brake as his partner was driving.

She was able to bring the car to a halt, but then Craven, who was told to get out of the car, threw a bottle of Prosecco at the vehicle, causing damage to the roof.

In mid-January when his presence was reported at the woman’s home, again in breach of the order, he slammed a door into a police officer’s hands as he fled the property.

The court heard he has 34 previous convictions for 53 offences, including previous domestic incidents.

Kate Barnes, in mitigation, told the court the defendant, an offshore worker, was, “an extremely courteous and articulate man”, whose difficulties have come about through binge drinking when on shore leave.

She said he hopes to take steps to address his drinking.

Jailing him, Judge Adkin extended the restraining order to make it for life.

Read more: Man pushed woman over in row at her Darlington home

In the following case, 31-year-old Sharpe, of South Pelaw, Chester-le-Street, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, two counts each of assault by beating and criminal damage.

Christopher Bevan, prosecuting, said having been confronted about unpaid maintenance money, Sharpe slapped his ex-partner’s face, and punched her bottom lip, late on July 23.

In the early hours the following morning he turned up at her home, in Burnopfield, threw a child’s bike against the door, smashed her phone and assaulted both her and her mother, who went there after hearing her daughter’s screams from up the road.

Sharpe’s ex-partner received hospital treatment for a broken finger, plus head and neck injuries.

Lewis Kerr, in mitigation, said the defendant recognised his “appalling” behaviour would leave him behind bars for some time.

Mr Kerr said Sharpe’s “issues” have been caused by his misuse of alcohol and crack cocaine.

Judge Adkin described it as a “persistent attack” on a “vulnerable” victim.

He said Sharpe’s previous convictions show he is, “a repeated domestic abuser”.

Jailing him, he made Sharpe subject of restraining orders forbidding contact or approaches to his ex-partner or her mother, both for ten years.

Read next:

               Figures show North East's rise in domestic abuse cases

               Durham Police arrest four men following reports of domestic abuse

               Darlington councillor speaks on domestic violence education

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here