A MAN who carried out a sustained, unprovoked attack on his girlfriend, while drinking with her at his home, was today (Monday April 13) jailed for 32 months.

Paul Watson, 44, was on licence following his release midway through a previous 14-month prison sentence, for assaulting a former partner, when the latest attack took place, on October 12 last year.

Durham Crown Court heard that Watson met the victim shortly after his release, in May 2014, but there were other allegations of domestic violence prior to the night of the incident.

Paul Reid, prosecuting, said the pair were drinking cider at his home in Easington, but neither was “heavily intoxicated”, when Watson accused her of being unfaithful.

“He became aggressive, knocked her to the floor, repeatedly punched her to the face, head and body and head-butted her nose.

“She put up her hands to protect her herself and he then kicked her over her body, and put his hand over her nose, making it difficult to breathe.”

Mr Reid said Watson also began pulling her hair out, despite her cries and pleas for him to stop, telling him his allegations of her infidelity were false.

Watson then ended the attack and went back to his chair and resumed drinking.

Mr Reid said the victim did not dare to move despite suffering so much pain that she felt her head would, “blow open”.

It was only at 5am the following morning that she was able to flee the house, by the rear door, and return to her own home.

Mr Reid said she was subsequently taken to hospital, suffering multiple rib fractures, a broke nasal bone, a collapsed lung, plus extensive bruising.

She was kept in hospital for observation for ten days, and when she made a victim statement to police a month later still had bald patches, was suffering sickness and depression.

The court heard she returned home to find her house ransacked by Watson and was too frightened to stay there.

Watson, of Inchape Terrace, Horden, admitted unlawful wounding and criminal damage.

Jane Waugh, mitigating, said the defendant acknowledges he has, “serious problems with alcohol”, and, in drink, accepts he struggles to control his behaviour.

She said he concedes what he did was “unforgiveable” and has sought treatment to address his drink problem.

Jailing him, Judge Christopher Prince described it as, “an unpleasant, sustained attack on a vulnerable victim, in the circumstances.”

He imposed a restraining order forbidding Watson from attempting to contact the victim or approach her.