A MAN who attacked three members of his ex-partner’s family in a domestic row was jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Kevin David Hope was branded, “an appalling bully”, by a judge who was told of his angry reaction in a confrontation with his former partner as she unloaded shopping on the driveway of a house in Haswell Plough, east Durham, on Saturday May 2.

Durham Crown Court heard that he threw a tray of food at the windscreen and grabbed the woman as she was strapping their young child into a baby seat.

Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, said it caused her to fall backwards and the child also fell, but was cushioned by her mother.

When the victim’s sister intervened, she, too, was pushed by Hope, who then tried to punch their father in the face, but missed.

Mr Abrahams said Hope took out a riding crop from his car, using it to strike the vehicle driven by the father, as he began to drive from the scene.

But Hope then took to his car and pursued the father, as he drove home oblivious that he was being followed.

Mr Abrahams said Hope pulled up alongside, got out, made derogatory comments about his daughters, before striking him in the face and dragging him from his car.

Hope struck him several more times when he fell to the ground, leaving him with, “a significant eye injury”.

Mr Abrahams said Hope then got back into his car and deliberately rammed the victim’s car several times, only stopping following a neighbour’s intervention.

His parting shot was to throw car keys and his ex-partner’s purse in the victim’s direction.

He drove away and was only arrested after a police chase through both countryside and residential areas.

In protest at the police station, Hope damaged his cell by throwing food and shoving a blanket down the toilet, rendering it out of use for a day.

Hope, 36, of Hutton Grove, Haswell, admitted two counts each of common assault and criminal damage, assault causing actual bodily harm plus careless driving.

Tony Cornberg, mitigating, said Hope went through long-term substance misuse, spending much of an inheritance on cocaine, but has been on a drug-free wing in custody.

Mr Cornberg said the defendant also hoped to address his anger and control “issues”.

Jailing him, Judge Christopher Prince told Hope most defendants end such behaviour long before reaching their thirties.

”You have a bad record for violence and you are clearly highly aggressive, an appalling bully to those who are significantly weaker than you.

“You also can’t control your temper. That much is evident.”

He also banned Hope from driving for 33-months.