A DOMESTIC abuser bit a police officer after smashing a pole on his partner’s head, a court has heard.

Two police officers were injured arresting Jason Crompton following his latest act of domestic violence, his third breach of a restraining order.

Crompton has found himself behind bars since the late-night incident at the home he shared with his partner, in Ferryhill, on February 24.

Durham Crown Court heard the pair had been in an on-off relationship for a number of years, which included previous violent episodes, resulting in the imposition of a restraining order, in April 2013.

Jonathan Walker, prosecuting, said it prohibited Crompton from harassing or using unlawful violence against the woman. Mr Walker said Crompton had returned home in an intoxicated state and was verbally abusive.

Rows escalated into Crompton punching his partner in the face and grabbing her hair. He also kicked her in the back, causing her to fall down several stairs, before grabbing a plastic pole from a Venetian blind, striking her so hard with it, that it snapped.

The woman ran outside and hid behind a police car, as it parked in the street. When the officers told Crompton he was being arrested, he “tensed up” and tried to resist, biting a policewoman in the hand and kicking her male colleague in the shin and on his foot.

On arrival at a police station he denied the assaults and made no comment in interview.

Mr Walker said Crompton’s now-ex partner was badly bruised, with swellings to her right eye and cheek, while the female officer suffered bite marks to her hand and her colleague’s shin and foot was in pain.

Crompton, 44, of Wensley Terrace, Ferryhill, admitted assault by beating, two counts of assaulting a police officer, and one each of resisting police and breaching a restraining order.

Zoe Passfield, mitigating, said the defendant managed to control his drinking for a long period following his previous breach, but on the day in question, turned to alcohol after a row, and “reverted to his previous behaviour”.

She added that he aims to make the most of his time in prison to work with agencies to address his drinking.

Imposing sentences totalling 14 months, Judge Deborah Sherwin reduced it by four months due to the defendant’s immediate guilty pleas at magistrates’ court.