A witness dropping off a relative heard screams and shouts, and saw a woman being dragged into a nearby house by the hair.

The incident, in Craddock Street, Spennymoor, on the morning of August 11, concerned the witness to the extent that a 999 call was made to report it to police.

Durham Crown Court was told that officers arrived at the scene at 8.50am and found a woman outside in the street crying, clearly visibly upset.

Paul Cleasby, prosecuting, said the woman was seen going back into the house and the officers followed her into the property, where defendant Kenneth Chisholm was present.

He told the officers he had to go to work, but he did not say where, while the woman present said she had been hit with a chair leg and appeared to have numerous injuries.

Mr Cleasby said these included bruising and swelling to the face, arms and legs, plus marks on the neck, consistent with strangulation.

Read more: Concerns raised over 'scary' Durham domestic violence figures

Both at the house and at hospital she said she had been hit to the ribs by Chisholm using a chair leg, before he dragged her back into the house by her hair.

She said he had been violent to her in the past, even though they had only been in a relationship for a few months.

Among the incidents of violence she said he had inflicted on her, were punches to the face, plus strangulation to the point where she passed out, which had taken place only the previous day.

Chisholm was described as being verbally aggressive to police at the scene, threatening to assault them and calling his partner, “a grass”.

He was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence and for stealing his partner’s phone, which was in his possession at the time.

Mr Cleasby said that indicated there being a, “controlling nature” to the relationship, as the injured woman said Chisholm had taken the phone from her to prevent her calling for help.

As he struggled when the officers tried to place him in a police car, a van had to be summoned, but he lashed out with his feet as he was brought from the vehicle on arrival at a police station, although neither officer involved was injured.

The defendant gave mostly “no comment” replies when interviewed but did try to explain his partner’s injuries as having been inflicted in a fight with a woman two-days earlier.

Mr Cleasby said the injured woman withdrew her support for the prosecution, but the police made it clear to her they intended proceeding with the case.

Read more: Durham Police arrest four men following reports of domestic abuse

Chisholm, 35, of Simpson Road, West Auckland, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.

The court was told he has previous offences of violence on his record.

Jonathan Walker, in mitigation, told the court: “At the time of the plea hearing I said he had taken a mature and sensible view as to the evidence and his decision to plead was an honest plea in the absence of the complainant’s input.

“He showed a reflective attitude and openly expressed a degree of remorse for his actions.”

But Mr Walker said he was disappointed to read that his client had back-tracked somewhat from that attitude, when he spoke to the author of the Probation Service pre-sentence report.

Mr Walker added, however, that the offences were, still, “largely out of character for him.”

Recorder Tom Moran said it appeared the complainant was, “very fearful of disclosing anything on camera and they (the police officers) could see how scared she was of you.”

The Recorder said the defendant’s “minimisation” of the incident is “most concerning”.

Addressing Chisholm, he said: “It’s clear you have no remorse for your actions and you are considered a high risk of harm to future partners.”

Describing it as, “a prolonged and persistent assault”, Recorder Moran imposed a 21-month prison sentence on Chisholm, down from a starting point of 28 months, to reflect credit for his guilty pleas.

But as the victim had not requested a restraining order, nothing of that nature was put in place.

Read next:

County Durham domestic violence perpetrator to be sentenced next month

Durham Police and Crime Commissioner secures funding to tackle domestic abuse

Figures show North East's rise in domestic abuse cases

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