A WOMAN felt a heavy blow to the back of the head during a violent dispute with her former partner, a court heard.

The victim believed she was struck with a thick bottomed glass held by her assailant, Dean Robert Pearce.

But Durham Crown Court heard that while that was considered a “likely” explanation, considering the resulting wound to her scalp, it could not be definitively ruled out that the injury was caused by a punch.

Jane Waugh, prosecuting, said the victim was taken to hospital suffering a 3cm wound, which was treated with four external and three internal stitches.

She believed a glass had been used as the weapon in the attack as one of that type was subsequently discovered missing from her home.

Pearce, who left the house when other family members were summoned, was arrested in Bede Street, Easington Colliery, and told police he had not assaulted his partner, claiming she had, “thrown herself down the stairs”, adding: “She’s mad.”

Although he continued denials in interview, 34-year-old Pearce, of McGuinness Avenue, Horden, admitted unlawful wounding at an earlier hearing.

Miss Waugh said Pearce has a previous conviction for assaulting the same woman, punching her in the face causing two black eyes, in 2010.

He received a suspended prison sentence, with an order to attend anger management and alcohol treatment courses for that offence.

Miss Waugh added that his now former partner, who described him as “a heavy drinker”, twice left him, before reconciling, prior to the incident in May.

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said Pearce, who could not recall how the blow was landed, conceded alcohol has been “a huge problem”, leading him to behave, “uncharacteristically”.

But Mr Constantine added that the defendant set about cutting down his consumption, and, now, no longer drinks alcohol.

Jailing him for ten months, Judge Tim Gittins said he would be failing in his duty if he were not to pass a custodial sentence for such violence.

He also imposed a five year restraining order forbidding Pearce from attempting to contact the victim or going within 400-metres of her home.