A vile thug who assaulted his ex-partner and a nine-year-old girl in a shocking attack has been put behind bars.

Anthony Campbell, 55, punched the woman in her thirties and said he would “destroy her face” during the vicious attack.

She drifted in and out of consciousness and was left with a swollen black eye, bruised hand, cut to her eyebrow and potentially needing surgery to her eye.

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Campbell, of Middlesbrough, also assaulted a nine-year-old girl by kicking her in the stomach. He then dragged the woman and three children who were with her into his vehicle before driving away on March 13 this year.

She saw a plastic bottle containing liquid and the attacker had a taser with him in the vehicle.

The woman lost consciousness several times before waking up in an address.

He eventually took her and the children to hospital where she was treated for her injuries including having her cut eyebrow glued. The nine-year-old had no visible injuries but was said to be in pain.

On Monday (August 14) Campbell was convicted at Teesside Crown Court of breaching a restraining order and two assaults.

He was sent to jail for 18 months and given a three-year restraining order.

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PC Peter Dunn from the Cleveland Police Domestic Abuse Unit said: “I am satisfied with the sentence handed to Campbell and the further restraining order, which I hope will give some comfort to the victims in this case.

“Campbell is clearly a danger and his time in prison will give him chance to reflect upon these crimes, which must have been terrifying for the woman and child involved.

“Anyone who is a victim of domestic abuse is urged to come forward and speak to police on 101 or get help from the many support services which are available to offer advice and specialist support.”