A man originally from Ireland is at risk of a UK prison sentence for his abusive behaviour to a woman with whom he was in a relationship in County Durham.

The warning was given to defendant Dean Sheehan after he admitted charges of controlling and coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship, plus assault causing actual bodily harm.

Durham Crown Court heard that the controlling and coercive behaviour took place between December 1 last year and July 13 this year, while Sheehan was in a relationship with a woman in Ferryhill.

(Image: The Northern Echo) The charge read that he caused the woman to fear violence would be used against her on at least two occasions, he assaulted her and made demands for money, while also verbally abusing her and making threats to assault members of her family.

His other offence admitted, the assault causing actual bodily harm, was said to have taken place on July 12.

Sam Ponniah, prosecuting, told the court those pleas were “acceptable” to the Crown.

Appearing at the court last month, Sheehan had denied both those two charges and further counts of intentional strangulation and false imprisonment.

A trial was provisionally fixed to start at the court on January 7, next year.

But when the defendant changed his pleas to the two counts admitted yesterday (Wednesday September 11), Mr Ponniah said the prosecution would no longer seek to take the case to trial.

Annelise Haugstad, representing the defendant, asked for preparation of a background report on Sheehan by the Probation Service before he is sentenced.

She said he is aged 43 and of previous good character.

But Mr Ponniah said his previous good character only applied to this jurisdiction (in England and Wales).

He said the Crown would research Sheehan’s previous criminal history with the authorities in his native Ireland.

Sheehan, said to be of no fixed abode, was appearing via video link from nearby Durham Prison, where he has been on remand.

He told the court he has no outstanding cases pending in Ireland.

But he said his last conviction was a suspended prison sentence in Ireland, last year.

(Image: The Northern Echo)

Judge Bennett thanked him for the information and said it would be for the police and Crown to seek the defendant’s full previous record in Ireland with the authorities in the republic before the sentencing hearing for his latest offences.

Addressing Sheehan, the judge told him: “You have had the good sense to plead guilty to these two matters.

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“The fact that I’m adjourning for preparation of a pre-sentence report shouldn’t be taken as any indication by you as to what the sentence will be.

“All options remain open to the sentencing judge.”

Sentence was adjourned until October 17 and the defendant was remanded to remain in custody in the meantime.