Violent Ferryhill bully attacked young boy during row

Ryan Turnbull grabbed the boy by the arm and threw him to the ground before smashing a basketball into his face during the row with his mother.

Teesside Crown Court heard how he had been in a controlling relationship with the boy’s mother for four years before his violence became too much for her to endure.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said Turnbull called the boy’s mother 30 times asking if he could come and apologise, she refused and told him he ‘had gone too far’.

He told the court how the defendant started a new relationship but his controlling behaviour continued, he would repeatedly call her to check where she was and accuse her of having an affair.

“When she returned home, he accused her of cheating on her,” he said. “While she was making a sandwich, he grabbed her arm and pushed her against the washer.

“She told him to leave, he pushed her into a wardrobe having refused to leave and she told him she was going to call the police.”

Mr Newcombe said the pair tried to rekindle their relationship but his behaviour continued to be aggressive and controlling.

“She tried to walk away and he tried to prevent her by grabbing her around the neck and pinning her to the bed,” he said. “After a minute he released his grip on her throat but returned and put his hands to her throat again and was strangling her.”

Ryan Turnbull (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Turnbull, of Bessemer Street, Ferryhill, was found guilty of coercive and controlling behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm on the young boy in September 2022.

The 29-year-old was also found guilty of intentional strangulation and assault on his next partner in June and July last year.

Tabitha Buck, mitigating, said: “It is clear in his pre-sentence report that he accepts that there is work that needs to be done and he does have issues in his romantic relationships.”

Judge Richard Bennett sentenced Turnbull to a total of four years and six months after he was found guilty of all charges.

“You became controlling and verbally aggressive and then increasingly physically aggressive,” he said about the first set of charges.

“You created an unpleasant atmosphere in her home for her and her children. When her son asked why you were shouting at his mother, you grabbed him by the arms and pushed him to the floor.

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“Whilst he was lying on the floor crying, you picked up a basketball and threw it full force into his face. That blow made him feel dizzy and upset.”

Turnbull was also issued with indefinite restraining orders to protect his two victims.

Judge Bennett added: “It was abundantly clear to me that you were obsessive, controlling, you were paranoid that she was talking to somebody else.

“You started a new relationship but again your controlling behaviour resurfaced shortly after it started.”