A MAN with a history of violent offending against his now ex-partner was jailed for three years and ten months following his latest attack.

Durham Crown Court heard that while subject to a suspended sentence, David Joseph Green pushed his partner down the stairs at their Horden home, causing her to land badly at the bottom against an item of furniture earlier this year.

She suffered a broken arm, with part of the bone left protruding from her skin.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, said she had to undergo surgery, including having a metal plate inserted in her arm.

Mr Baker said several months on, she still suffered pain from the injury.

Reading from her victim statement, Mr Baker said since his remand in custody she has been able to “move on from his clutches”, adding that she no longer wanted him in her life after four years of suffering.

Thirty-six-year-old Green, of Third Street, denied a charge of unlawful wounding, but was convicted after a trial at the court, in August.

Mr Baker said the defendant’s record includes offences of battery, assault and wounding, the last six convictions against the same victim, and he was subject to a four-month suspended sentence at the time of the incident on the stairs.

Paul Abrahams, for Green, said there was little he could say about the offence, as: “He’s had his trial, and lost.”

He added:: “He clearly has a drink problem and an aggravating feature is that in this and the other cases he was in drink at the time.”

Imposing a three-and-a-half year sentence, with the four months added from the suspended sentence, Judge Christopher Prince said it was time he received a long jail term to send out the message that the courts will not tolerate such a catalogue of domestic violence.

Under the terms of a restraining order imposed by the judge, Green is forbidden from trying to contact or approach his ex-partner, “until further order”.