A woman dragged across the floor by her controlling partner told police it just formed part of a pattern of abuse in their relationship when she reported the incident, a court heard.

She told police that due to Joe Williams’ aggressive behaviour she locked both front and back doors to prevent him gaining access to their home, on April 17 this year.

Durham Crown Court was told that Williams broke one of the doors to get in, before dragging her off the bed and along the floor, causing a carpet burn to her leg.

Philip Morley, prosecuting, said this led her to report events to the police and in doing so she disclosed a history of abuse in their 18-month relationship.

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Mr Morley said this included Williams being verbally abusive, calling her “a whore” and “slag”, to degrade her, and accusing her of being unfaithful.

She told police he would control what friends she had, who she could see and when she could speak to her mother.

Mr Morley said she also outlined a history of violence by him, laying his hands on her on an almost daily basis, dragging her around their home, putting covers to her face causing her to fear suffocation and having panic attacks, at which he laughed.

When sitting on the sofa he would put cushions to her face, terrifying her, and when she became pregnant, he threatened to “splatter” the unborn child off a wall if she gave it a name he did not like.

While agitated after being unable to obtain drugs, on May 5 this year, he caused damage to their home, smashing two TV sets with a hammer, and put a knife to his partner’s neck, threatening her if she thought of leaving him.

As a result, she stayed with him that night, but the following morning she did tell him she wanted to leave and Williams told her if she did, he would sell her possessions.

He then smashed bed poles and told her how sharp it made them, pointing them at her, making further threats to harm the unborn child.

Williams allowed her to go downstairs where she smelled burning and he said he would burn the house down, as he set light to fabric.

Mr Morley said at this, she rang her family and the police, and when members of her family got to the house, Williams fled, but he was later detained by police.

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In her impact statement, read to the court, the victim said she was worried what Williams might do when he is released from custody, adding that she feared for both her own and her unborn child’s safety.

She said she feared he would manipulate her to continue the relationship and she was scared, just wanting to be free of him.

In a more recent statement she requested the imposition of a restraining order.

The 19-year-old defendant, of Sixth Street, Horden, appeared at the hearing via video link from HMP Durham, where he has been on remand.

He admitted charges of controlling and coercive behaviour in a relationship and common assault at previous hearings.

Jennifer Coxon, in mitigation, said the defendant, who is of previous good character, has had a first taste of custody having been detained, on May 7.

“It’s clear from the Probation Service background report he’s a young man, just 19, who has had some difficulties in his own upbringing, which has had a clear effect on how he sees future relationships and deals with his emotions.

“He has identified that it was an unhealthy relationship from the start, moving in together and he found himself dealing with his own difficulties and not having the maturity to deal with his emotions.

“He took it out quite awfully on his partner and accepts his wrong doings with her.

“Clearly, there’s work to be done, with his immaturity and a lack of structure in his life.”

Miss Coxon said it all led the defendant to use drugs to excess and, to “take his anger out on his partner”.

She added that the defendant has found being in prison the last few weeks, “an awful experience” and one he does not want to repeat.

Judge Richard Bennett said Williams’ behaviour in the relationship was, “persistent conduct over a considerable period of time, causing a fear of violence on many occasions.”

The judge told Williams: “It’s clear from reading the pre-sentence report that you are immature and lack remorse and empathy with your partner.

"Your drug issues were, at the time, ‘out of control’.”

He said the time spent in custody has given the defendant a taste of being incarcerated for the first time in his life.

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Judge Bennett said he could, therefore, suspend the 21 month prison sentence for two years, during which Williams must take part in a total of 55 days working with the Probation Service, observe a 120-day alcohol abstinence regime and perform 150 hours’ unpaid work.

The judge also put in place an indefinite restraining order prohibiting the defendant from contacting or approaching his former partner.

He warned Williams that failure to comply with any element of the sentence would bring him back before the court at risk of part or all of the suspended jail term being activated.