Woman was left unconscious in street in Seaham after attack by partner

Such was the force of the blow from Adam Taylor’s shod foot that his partner was rendered unconscious for about a minute.

Durham Crown Court heard that a householder from a nearby address, in Magdalene Court, Seaham, heard the commotion and came out to investigate.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, told the hearing that although the resident did not see the stamp, he saw Taylor returning briefly to the scene, trying to pick up his prone partner.

Read more: County Durham man jailed for 'reprehensible' attack on former partner

As she came around she did not want to go anywhere with him, so Taylor swore and left, while the witness made an emergency call.

Taylor was arrested away from the scene while the victim was attended to for a sore head, chest and painful finger, but she did not seek further medical treatment.

Mr Towers said the woman gave an initial statement to police, but she subsequently retracted it and withdrew her co-operation for the prosecution, after rekindling her relationship with the defendant.

He said there was, therefore, no victim personal statement as to the impact of the attack, or any application for the imposition of a restraining order.

Mr Towers said the incident, on August 28, took place after the couple had been out drinking and argued as they reached Magdalene Court, where Taylor grabbed his partner by the hair and pulled her to the ground, before stamping on her face as she tried to protect her head with her raised arm.

Judge Jo Kidd was assisted by CCTV in the area, as the available footage captured the stamp, which she viewed several times.

The 30-year-old defendant, of Brooklyn Street, Murton, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, when he appeared before magistrates on November 23.

Read more: County Durham man jailed for 'remorseless' and 'humiliating' violence

Mr Towers told the crown court sentencing hearing that the defendant has 45 offences on his record, including several for assault and battery.

Jennifer Coxon, representing Taylor, told the court: “I accept it’s an awful incident aggravated by it (the stamp).

“My interpretation is that he when she is on the ground she raises her head and then his foot comes down on the head.”

Judge Kidd intervened, saying: “She’s on the ground covering her face with her arm because clearly she can see him approaching again.”

Miss Coxon told the judge: “He’s 30 and doesn’t shy away from the fact that he has previous convictions, some of which have resulted in previous custody.

“He’s well aware you are likely to impose an immediate custodial sentence today.

“Despite it being an awful incident, his partner has remained supportive of him.

“While she has her own accommodation, she has been living with him for some time.

“They have been in a relationship for three years and although they have had verbal arguments, this was the first physical offence.”

Judge Kidd, however, referred to the Probation Service’s pre-sentence report which pointed to 13 previous police call outs to domestic incidents involving the pair, but Miss Coxon said they were for verbal disputes.

She said a trigger point was seen as the defendant's alcohol intake, which she said he is trying to address to the point of abstinence.

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Judge Kidd told Taylor he has “an unenviable record” and is assessed by the Probation Service as posing a medium risk of re-offending and a high risk of causing serious harm to his current partner.

Referring to the incident, she said: “Your partner was cowering, prone on the ground with her arms up to protect herself and you responded by stamping on her face.”

Describing Taylor’s behaviour that night as “bullying and aggressive”, Judge Kidd imposed a 20-month prison sentence, and said it would be up to the victim to seek legal advice if she wanted to change her mind about the imposition of a restraining order.