A WOMAN whose dog was found dead after a Christmas Day argument with her former partner was awarded £150 compensation by a court.

Matthew James Clark, 27, of Tom Raine Court, Darlington, also received a 24-month community order and was ordered to pay £43 court costs at Darlington Magistrates' Court for assaulting former partner Maria Louise Hall.

The row took place in the early hours of Christmas morning after both had been drinking.

Jonathan Bambro, prosecuting, said Ms Hall decided to take her dog, Stanley, for a walk and when she returned, Clark had called the police.

The police left and Mr Bambro said the victim could not recall what happened next.

However, he said she did recall Clark grabbing her hair and pushing her to the ground. She also remembered Clark twice picking up the dog and throwing it out of the room by the scruff of its neck.

Mr Bambro said Ms Hall suffered tenderness to her upper body, shoulders, back and head, a number of bruises on her arms and a red mark on her cheek and jaw.

Police were called a second time and found the dog dead on the floor.