Thug left ex-partner needing metal plates in her face after knocking her out in violent South Shields street attack

A mum had to have screws and metal plates inserted into her face after her ex-partner punched her twice and then drove her to his flat while she was unconscious.
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The victim was left with a fractured jaw after being attacked by her former partner Douglas Bell, 32, as she walked home from a friend's house in South Shields, South Tyneside, with their two-year-old daughter.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Bell picked the woman up while she was unconscious on the ground and transported her, and the child, in his car to his flat where she woke up in his bathroom.

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Jenny Haigh, prosecuting, told the court how the woman had no recollection of how she had got to his property.

Douglas BellDouglas Bell
Douglas Bell

She said: "Her face was bruised, she was swollen, she was in a lot of pain, there was blood coming from her mouth, a large lump on the back of her head."

Ms Haigh told the court how she had asked Bell what had happened to her and was told that he had punched her and that she had been knocked out.

She said: "He confirmed he had taken her and her daughter to his home. She had no idea about this."

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Ms Haigh told the court how he had also washed her clothes and given her a T-shirt to wear.

Douglas BellDouglas Bell
Douglas Bell

She said: "She said he acted like absolutely nothing had happened.

"When she did get home she rang her mother who rang the police.

"She in fact needed an operation which inserted screws and metal plates into her face.

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"There is likely to be permanent damage to the nerves in her face."

Ms Haigh told the court how Bell had previously been given a restraining order against the woman, which he was in breach of.

Bell, of Priory Road, Jarrow, South Tyneside, admitted grievous bodily harm and breaching a restraining order.

Lee Fish, defending, told the court how there was no evidence that Bell had planned to find the complainant and assault her.

Judge Penny Moreland told Bell:

"Mr Fish tells me you are sorry for what you have done and that I accept."

Judge Moreland sentenced Bell to two years behind bars.