A MAN who punched his pregnant girlfriend unconscious was jailed for more than four years yesterday after a judge said he posed a considerable risk of attacking other women.
Lee Cullen left his girlfriend lying in the street with a fractured skull after the attack near Durham bus station on May 2.
Last night, campaigners against domestic violence said they hoped Cullen's four year and three month jail sentence would act as a warning to other abusers.
Claire Seymour, co-ordinator of Darlington Domestic Violence Forum, said: "We want this message to get across into the community, that domestic violence is a serious crime and it will not be tolerated."
Cullen was seen having a heated row with his girlfriend before he felled her with a single blow to her jaw, Durham Crown Court heard.
Caroline Goodwin, prosecuting, said Cullen, 27, of Eighth Avenue, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, left his girlfriend unconscious in the street after the drunken attack.
The court was told he was subject to a three-year anti-social behaviour order (Asbo), imposed by Chester-le-Street magistrates in August 2000, because of the problems he caused while under the influence of drink and solvents.
He breached conditions of the order twice in successive days in September this year, turning up drunk in Third Avenue, Chester-le-Street, outside the home of his girlfriend, who had given birth to their son a few weeks earlier.
Miss Goodwin said that Cullen's bail conditions for the assault forbade him from contacting his girlfriend.
Geoff Hunter, for Cullen, said he had not intended causing such a serious injury, and the breaches of the order arose as he merely wanted to see his son.
Mr Hunter said the girlfriend's statement described Cullen as, "pleasant and easy to get on with" when sober, but subject to "personality changes" in drink.
Cullen admitted grievous bodily harm, causing an affray and two breaches of the Asbo.
Jailing him, Judge John Milford said: "You have an appalling record for offences of violence. You lack the ability to control yourself while drinking and it results in someone suffering really serious bodily harm."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article