A BLOODIED woman told police she feared her former lover would kill her unless they intervened, a court heard yesterday.

Two witnesses saw Kelvin Harrison, 31, punch and kick Lesley Hodgson in a County Durham street. The assault lasted 45 minutes.

One woman twice rang the police on her mobile phone to report the attack.

She told officers that she was physically sick because she believed Miss Hodgson was going to die.

Christopher Williamson, prosecuting, said police found Miss Hodgson unconscious with blood around her mouth and nose, in The Burn area of Newton Aycliffe.

Harrison lay beside her and told officers: "It's just a domestic with our lass."

However, Teesside Crown Court heard that when Miss Hodgson regained consciousness she told an officer: "You've got to stop him before he kills me."

Mr Williamson said Miss Hodgson had ended a 12-year relationship with Harrison, who had a history of violence.

She had called police to her home after Harrison made drunken attempts to get into the house, upsetting her ten-year-old son.

She was at her sister's home on July 28 when he arrived drunk. She allowed him to walk with her at 3am, but he became abusive and he kicked and punched her unconscious.

Harrison told police he could not remember the attack.

Peter Boddy, defending, said Harrison flew into a rage when his ex-partner told him that he was not her son's father.

Mr Boddy said: "A red mist descended and he lost control. He is very ashamed of the way he acted, this is very much out of character."

The judge, Recorder Simon Bourne-Arton QC, told Harrison: "What you did that night was simply intolerable.

"It was a prolonged and vicious attack, and anyone who uses kicks on a defenceless person on the ground can only be expected to be sent to prison. When that person happens to be a female it is worse.

"Mercifully there are no permanent injuries as a result of the cowardly attack."

Harrison, of Brockett Close, Newton Aycliffe, was jailed for 18 months. The judge imposed a restraining order on him indefinitely after he pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm, assault, affray and a Protection from Harassment offence