A MAN who knocked his girlfriend unconscious in a “disgraceful” one-punch attack has been jailed for 26 weeks.

Closed circuit television cameras captured the moment James McKnight punched his girlfriend in the street, immediately knocking her unconscious.

The 20-year-old then dragged her limp body off the pavement and into some nearby bushes, where the footage showed him trying to embrace and kiss her.

The footage of the attack was described by district judge Adrian Lower as “absolutely disgraceful” when it was played at Darlington Magistrates’ Court.

He said: “The fact that you kissed her while she was unconscious is utterly repellent.”

McKnight, of Hilda Street, Darlington, told the court he could not watch the footage and held his head down as it was played.

Despite the brutal attack, prosecutor Alan Davison said McKnight’s girlfriend walked away with only minor injuries, including grazing to her chin and a bump on her head.

In mitigation, Clive Booth said the pair were both drunk at the time of the attack in the early hours of May 17 this year.

He said: “It could have led to far more serious consequences, she could have been killed.

“It is safe to say he is utterly remorseful for it. It was their one and only time of domestic violence.”

McKnight pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm at an earlier hearing and returned to court for sentencing.

Sentencing him to 26 weeks in a young offenders’ institution, Judge Lower told McKnight: “The offence was committed in a domestic relationship and the court takes domestic violence very seriously.

“People have the right to feel safe in a domestic relationship, where else could they feel safe?

“She should not expect to be treated like this by someone she has feelings for.

“The law abiding public expect a very strong message when these sorts of offences come before the court that this sort of behaviour is simply not acceptable.”

He will have to serve 13 weeks of his sentence before being considered for release.

Senior domestic abuse investigator, Detective Sergeant Carl Moss described the attack as horrific and urged people to look out for their neighbours, friends and relatives who could also be suffering domestic violence behind closed doors.

“People should not be scared of reporting domestic violence,” he said.

Anybody who suspects a friend, relative or neighbour is suffering domestic violence can report it via the non-emergency 101 number, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.