'A vicious attack' - Double South Shields assault on female said to go 'beyond self-defence'

A South Tyneside man assaulted his partner in a “vicious attack” caught on camera moments after another assailant had done likewise but for different reasons, a court heard.

Ryan Todd, 35, grabbed, pushed and threw the woman to the ground close to Anderson Street in South Shields town centre on Sunday, April 27 last year.

Seconds earlier, Jonathan Turbitt, 46, had grabbed her by the neck and shoved her when she allegedly provoked him as he tried to escape her drunken behaviour.

She also tumbled over, but Turbitt insisted he did not intend for her to fall and that her high stiletto shoes and intoxication had been responsible for that.

It was a claim accepted by borough magistrates in taking a guilty plea from Turbitt, of Summerhill Road, Harton, South Shields, to a charge of assault by beating.

Todd, of Dunlop Crescent, near the Nook, South Shields, admitted the same assault by beating charge, having attacked because he did not like her behaviour towards Turbitt.

He also pleaded guilty to assaulting a policeman in the execution of his duty on Wednesday, June 10 this year in Carden Avenue, off Prince Edward Road, South Shields, and being drunk and disorderly at the same time.

‘It was a vicious attack’

Prosecutor Paul Anderson said: “Council cameras notified police because there was a female who’s been assaulted by two males.

“Mr Turbitt grabbed her around the neck and throat. Mr Todd assaulted her by grabbing and pushing her into a hoarding. It was a vicious attack, she was thrown to the ground.

“She remained on the ground for over three minutes and was described as in a distressed state, lying in the foetal position.”

Mr Anderson added: “Mr Turbitt, he grabbed her by the throat and pushed her and as a result she fell to the ground.

“Mr Todd tried to placate her but then also got hold of her. She didn’t support the prosecution, but it was caught on CCTV.”

The court heard Todd’s assault against the policeman involved putting him in a headlock, and he was only stopped when hit with debilitating PAVA spray.

Hannah Mostoufi, defending Todd, said: “He had been out with his partner, and they were not known before to Mr Turbitt.

“The footage shows that she was persistently hostile towards Mr Turbitt and that Mr Todd is unhappy with that.

‘Goes beyond self-defence’

“It was Mr Todd who was trying to stop Mr Turbitt using force. Mr Turbitt goes beyond self-defence. Mr Todd is extremely sorry for what he did.”

Joanne Gatens, defending Turbitt, said he pleaded guilty on the basis “he did not intend the injured party to fall to the ground when pushed”.

Mrs Gatens added: “He believes that she fell due to her stilettos and she was drunk. He does accept that he grabbed her by the neck and shoved her.

“He had been out that night with his partner. They had been ejected from a pub because of the behaviour of the other two.

“CCTV shows Mr Turbitt is trying to get away with his girlfriend from the victim. She continues to try to goad him and at one point grabbed his clothes, causing damage.

“He does grab her and she falls to the ground, also due to the alcohol consumed and high heels.”

Todd was sentenced to an 18-month community order, with 30 rehabilitation days.

He must pay the policeman £100 compensation, and there was a £114 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

Magistrates fined Turbitt £778, with £500 court costs for his late guilty plea and a £311 victim surcharge.