Thug threw an ashtray at partner and dragged her by hair downstairs
AVIOLENT thug threw a mug at his partner’s head then dragged her out of bed by her hair and pulled her headfirst down the stairs.
Clifford Thompson’s long-suffering partner, who had been with him for 23 years at the time, said there had been a history of violent abuse and controlling behaviour, particularly when he had been drinking.
Police described having attended their home previously and had encouraged her to make a complaint.
Glenn Gatland, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: “The officer feared for her safety. The injuries were some of the worse she had seen in her police career.”
Mr Gatland said the woman had then suffered injuries on November 20 2021 and the following morning, Thompson said “oh God darling” when he saw the state of her face. Charges in relation to that were not proceeded with.
However, Mr Gatland added: “Later on, between 1pm and 3pm, she was sitting in the living room when the defendant picked up a mug which was used as an ashtray and threw it at her, striking her head, causing it to bleed.
“She went to bed and around 8pm he went to the bedroom, pulled her out of bed by the hair, pulled her to the floor by her hair and dragged her by the hair downstairs on her back, leaving her in a heap at the bottom of the stairs.”
A concerned neighbour called the police, who turned up and found her injured and took her to hospital.
She had broken ribs, some of which were new and some pre-existing, with bruising and tenderness to her chest and abdomen.
She also had multiple facial injuries, including a 3cm wound to her head and bruising to her jaw and legs. She was given a whole body CT scan which revealed the broken ribs and a suspected broken nose.
In a victim impact statement, she said: “I suffered significant injuries as a result of this attack and required emergency hospital treatment. I’m scared if there are future incidents they will escalate and I may sustain deadly injuries.
“He is so unpredictable and when in a rage there’s no calming him down. I’m terrified when he starts, I don’t know what will stop him.”
Thompson, 49, of Park Villas, Ashington, Northumberland, who has three previous convictions for assaulting the woman, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and was jailed for 30 months and given a five-year restraining order.
Tony Cornberg said the victim is “the love of his life” and added that Thompson cares for his mother, who is in ill health.