South Shields man punched girlfriend in nose, drawing blood, after celebrating his birthday

Scott Tate, 20, had been drinking when he punched her in face in the early hours of Thursday, October 22, at his home in John Williamson Street, near Chichester, South Shields, drawing blood.

The previous evening, they had celebrated with drinks and a takeaway but started to argue shortly before bedtime, prosecutor Paul Anderson told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

Tate, who has no previous convictions, pleading guilty to assault and causing harassment, alarm or distress – and was spared jail.

He was instead handed an 18-week prison term, suspended for 24 months, and must undergo 25 days of rehabilitation work to try to prevent future offending.

Mr Anderson said: “They had been, or maybe still are, together for about 18 months, it was an off and off relationship.

“She says that throughout, there was verbal abuse from him towards her.

“She went to his address for some drinks and a takeaway because it was his birthday.

“As he became more drunk, his behaviour became worse. He pulled clothes out of a drawer and snapped the side off the drawers while doing so.

“In the early hours, he came into the bedroom and was abusive, he called her a ****.

“She called her friend, and he came back into the bedroom and called her a **** again.

“She told him to sleep on the settee and that she would see him in the morning.

“He grabbed a metal rail, the type you put over a door, and raised it. He then grabbed her and threw her to the floor.

“She landed on the drawer which had broken, and which had nails sticking out of it.

“She thought that he was going to headbutt her, but he again pushed her to the floor, and he hit her in the face. He then started punching the door.”

Mr Anderson said Tate admitted the attack in a police interview and confirmed it had stemmed from an argument about her ex-partner.

Greg Flaxen, defending, said: “He is a man of previous good character.”

For the assault, Tate must also pay a £128 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

There was no separate penalty for the public order offence.

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