A COUNTY Durham man, who repeatedly banged his girlfriend’s head off his car dashboard and passenger window while driving, has been sent to prison.

Joshua Pattison, of Gurlish West, Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, pleaded guilty to assault by beating, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court today (November 21).

John Garside, prosecuting, said the attack had occurred during the early hours of October 28 when Pattison, 21, had picked up his now ex-partner from a Halloween night out in his Vauxhall Vectra.

Mr Garside went on to describe how Pattison, who has similar previous convictions, subjected the young woman to a prolonged attack, repeatedly banging her head against the window and dashboard, pulling her ear lobe with excessive force, biting her arm and ear and punching her lower back.

The victim was left in serious pain and covered in bruises. In a statement read out in court, she said the attack had affected her confidence and had caused weight loss and sleepless nights.

Clive Booth, mitigating, said it would be difficult to persuade District Judge Martin Walker to have any sympathy for Pattison but questioned the impact of the assault on the victim, claiming she had written to her attacker and had been shopping with his brother days after the attack.

District Judge Walker said he had no reason not to believe the victim’s account and sentenced Pattison to 24 weeks in custody.

He also disqualified him from driving for 10 years and issued a restraining order to protect the victim.