A woman was struck in the face and dragged from the back of a taxi by her irate drunken partner, before she sought refuge in a neighbour’s home, a court was told.

Liam Whitworth then laid siege to the house of the neighbour, who locked the front door and then barricaded the living room door to prevent the defendant gaining access to further attack his partner.

Durham Crown Court heard that Whitworth smashed his way through the front door and was in the throes of breaking the living room door when police arrived in the nick of time, before he was able to get to his petrified partner.

Whitworth was before the court facing sentence for charges of assault causing actual bodily harm, affray and criminal damage, each he admitted on the day he was due to face trial last month on more serious offences, on which he was originally accused.

The Northern Echo: Defendant dragged woman out of taxi and then threatened to attack her when she sought refuge in

Martin Towers, prosecuting, said the defendant accepted pulling his partner out of the rear of the taxi, onto the ground, causing bruising to her face, arm and body, and delivering a back-handed “clip” which caused her phone, which she was holding, to be thrust into her lip, causing an injury.

The affray arose from his aggression as he tried to get into the neighbour’s property, in Woodside Meadows, Auckland Park, Bishop Auckland.

Mr Towers said the incident took place late on December 14, 2022, when the couple took a taxi home after a work Christmas party in Middlesbrough.

The victim said Whitworth had a lot to drink at the party, affecting his behaviour, so his partner decided it was time to leave and called for the taxi.

Mr Towers said she went on to describe the defendant’s mood worsening during the taxi journey, so she decided to record him on her phone, to which he took exception.

It was then that Whitworth delivered the back-handed blow, leading to the woman suffering a lip injury.

As they were being dropped off, on reaching their destination at Auckland Park, the defendant accepts pulling her from the back of the taxi onto the ground, causing further injuries.

Mr Towers said she then ran shoeless to the home of a neighbour, who she only knew on a cursory basis.

Having knocked loudly as she shouted for help, she was admitted by the neighbour, telling him: “He’s hit me and taken my phone off me.”

The neighbour allowed her in and locked the door, before ringing for the police.

Mr Towers said Whitworth began knocking at the door and shouting loudly, demanding to be allowed in, while his partner pleaded with the neighbour not to let him enter.

Whitworth threatened he would come through the door and as he attempted to force it open became louder, causing his partner to curl up on the sofa fearing what would happen if he gained access.

Mr Towers said the front door caved in under the force exerted by Whitworth, who then tried to get into the living room, as the neighbour leaned against the door and held the handle to keep it closed.

Whitworth pounded at the door, and broke some of the bottom panels, then tried to reach in and grab the neighbour’s legs.

As Whitworth’s partner was screaming “stop, stop”, another voice and a scuffle were heard in the hallway.

Mr Towers said it was the arrival of a police officer who managed to restrain Whitworth.

The Northern Echo:

He was arrested and, when interviewed, denied allegations put to him, although he accepted going into the neighbour’s home, claiming he thought his girlfriend was in danger.

The neighbour spoke of the damage caused to his home, which was covered by insurance, although he had to pay a £100 excess bill.

Judge Nathan Adams asked Mr Towers not to read the victim’s impact statement as she had made further allegations over which the defendant was not charged.

Asked about a restraining order, Mr Towers said he was unaware of any further difficulties between the couple, who appeared to have separated as a result of the incident.

Mr Towers said the 33-year-old defendant, of North End Gardens, Bishop Auckland, has only two previous, unrelated convictions.

Kelly Clarke, for Whitworth, said he is now remorseful for his actions that night, which arose after a Christmas party at which there was a lot of drink consumed.

“He accepts he had been drinking a lot that evening, but his actions were totally out of character.”

Miss Clarke said this was backed up by references presented to the court on his behalf.

“He’s extremely sorry and when he saw the police body-worn camera footage he said: ‘That’s terrible. I can’t believe I behaved in that way’.”

Miss Clarke said Whitworth’s now ex-partner moved out of the home they had shared, which has remained empty while repairs were carried out after a car drove into the front of the property.

She described the defendant as, “a hard-working man”, employed in the water industry, and he has been in a relationship with another woman for about a year.

Judge Nathan Adams told the defendant his behaviour that night, 16 months ago, was, “simply incredible”.

He said: “Who knows what would have happened if the neighbour had not been there to prevent you getting in, by keeping the door shut.”

The judge accepted, however, that it had been, “a spontaneous act” resulting in no great injury being caused, while the defendant has kept out of trouble since the incident.

He said the defendant has no relevant previous convictions and accepted he was of, “general good character”.

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Judge Adams said for those reasons, and, “after careful consideration”, he was just able to, “step back” from imposing a prison sentence.

Passing an 18-month community order, he said the defendant will have to perform 160-hours’ unpaid work and undergo 30 sessions working with the Probation Service on a Building Better Relationships programme.

The judge warned Whitworth failure to comply with any aspect of the sentence would bring him back before the court and he would likely to be dealt with in a different manner.