Court told drunk man hit partner with a sofa
A drunk man struck his partner with a sofa after he recklessly flipped it during an argument at their Northumberland home.
Darren Brooks had returned home intoxicated in the early hours when a row erupted between him and his girlfriend. A court heard that the 32-year-old first grabbed the victim at the top of a flight of stairs before later flipping a settee in the living room.
Prosecutors said the sofa struck the woman but it didn’t stop Brooks from picking up her Apple iPad and smashing it. The cost of the damage was £300, Newcastle Magistrates’ Court was told.
Brooks, of Priestlands Drive, in Hexham, was arrested and went on to plead guilty to assault by beating and criminal damage.
Rob Lawson, prosecuting, said drunk Brooks returned home at around 3am on January 21 this year.
Mr Lawson continued: “A verbal argument ensued and the defendant grabbed her [his partner] at the top of the stairs. Later, when the argument went downstairs, he flipped the sofa, which contacted with [the victim] and that was the reckless assault. There was no intention to hit her with the sofa. He also picked up her iPad and smashed it.”
The court heard that the victim had since retracted her statement and didn’t support the prosecution. Brooks, who has a previous conviction from 2021 for criminal damage, represented himself in court and told magistrates: “I have replaced the iPad. The whole thing was reckless.”
The case was adjourned until June 1 at the same court for sentence. Brooks was released on unconditional bail.