Woman knocked out after being thrown
ATTACK BY PARTNER FOLLOWED ROW OVER PHONE CALL
A MAN threw his then partner so hard she was knocked unconscious, a court heard.
Darren Cottey, 51, of Cameron Street, Stockton, approached his partner of three years, picked her up and threw her across the landing after she asked who he was on the phone to.
The woman hit her head on the floor and lost consciousness, when she woke she was still lying on the floor, Teesside Magistrates Court heard. The prosecution told the court that the woman was referred to a psychologist following the three-year relationship and has since started regular counselling sessions.
In a victim statement she said she used to be a “strong and independent woman” but was now “ashamed” of who she had become.
The court also heard that the woman had been made to feel “worthless” and that “nobody liked her” throughout their relationship. The woman said Cottey repeatedly told her she was hated by her daughters and her friends in a bid to isolate her.
The prosecution added that the violence occurred on August 18, 2021, and the woman was probably unconscious for a few seconds. The woman was said to have asked Cottey who he was calling and, when he refused to answer, asked a further two times.
Defence solicitor Neil Douglas said the defendant did not resort to violence in the first instance and walked away from his ex after she questioned him. When she began to follow him, he “snapped”.
He said: “Mr Douglas was not looking for trouble that night and was not set on the violence against the woman.” He added that the couple are no longer together and will not be in a relationship again.
Cottey was handed a two-year term of community service with 25 rehabilitation days and a six-month curfew period between 7pm and 5am, which will be electronically monitored. He has been ordered to pay £250 compensation, £95 surcharge and £300 costs -– a total of £645 to be paid within 28 days.
District Judge Hood said: “Whilst I accept that on two occasions you did take yourself away, you did resort to violence.” The defendant was also given a restraining order for a 24-month period.