Sunderland dad spared jail for attacking mother of his son three times at her South Shields home

A dad who a judge fears could kill has avoided jail for attacks on his then partner after a court heard he had shown remorse and would abide by an indefinite restraining order.
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Joseph Tinkner, 30, of Onslow Street, Ford Estate, Sunderland, attacked her three times at her South Shields home between December and April, one part-witnessed by their young son.

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Magistrates in South Tyneside have now spared him jail, after a Probation Service report said he would likely benefit from its expert help.

The case was heard at South Tyneside Law Courts.The case was heard at South Tyneside Law Courts.
The case was heard at South Tyneside Law Courts.

They heard he would almost certainly have been imprisoned if he had denied the charges and been found guilty at trial.

Instead, Tinkner, who admitted the assaults and causing criminal damage to an interior wall at his victim’s home by pushing her into it, has been handed at two-year community order.

The jobless yob must also carry out unpaid work and pay her £300 compensation - £100 for each assault.

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Prosecutor Lesley Burgess said: “They were in a relationship which was on-off for nine years. They have a child together and have now split.

“She describes their relationship as toxic. She describes a lot of manipulation and control throughout.

“In the first assault, the defendant has punched her in the face, causing two black eyes. She had to cover these for work and make excuses.

“The defendant has also grabbed her around the neck and choked her. She has had great difficulty swallowing.”

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Of the final attack, she added: “On April 13, the complainant states that she woke up and was making breakfast.

“The defendant had stayed the night and was in a good mood, but by the afternoon that had changed.

“There was an issue about clothing on a radiator and an argument takes place.

“As a result, the defendant has taken her around the windows, saying, “Who can you hear outside? Can they hear us having a barney? No, they can’t’.”

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The earlier hearing was told he had paraded her forcefully and had aggressively opened the kitchen door which had hit her.

David Forrester, defending, said: “He accepts the context of what he did. He stood up and took it and pleaded guilty.

“When you look at his record there’s nothing there. He has one common assault as a juvenile and a possession of cannabis in 2012.

“District Judge Griffiths did say it has passed the custodial threshold but that there was a chance of rejuvenation. There’s a genuine degree of remorse.”

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Magistrates handed Tinkner an indefinite restraining order, meaning he can only see his former partner around child care.

The community order has a requirement of 30 days’ rehabilitation work with the Probation Service and 30 Building Better Relationships programme sessions.

He must also carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £85 court costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

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