A MAN was sent to prison yesterday for assaulting his partner after a night out in Bishop Auckland town centre.

Christopher Howe, of Blackett Street, Bishop Auckland, pleaded guilty to common assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) in November last year.

Sheila Moore, prosecuting, told magistrates sitting at Bishop Auckland that the 33-year-old had punched his partner, Rebecca Wright, several times in the face and held her to the ground using his legs.

The assault took place in the town centre home they shared after Howe had chased Miss Wright following an argument in a pizza shop on the Market Place, during which he had pulled up her top exposing her bra to customers.

Howe also admitted a public order offence of causing harassment relating to the incident.

The pair had been socialising separately before they met up in the Postchaisse pub, from which Howe had been ejected, and the row started.

Bruce Cunningham, for the defence, told magistrates that Howe and Miss Wright had reconciled after the incident, during which both parties had been intoxicated, and that Howe supported their two children and cared for an elderly relative.

Magistrates sentenced Howe to four months in prison for the offence of ABH, with no separate penalty for the public order offence.