A RUNNING commentary was given as a man forcibly dragged his partner from a friend’s home, a court heard.

A concerned neighbour rang police to report the “horrendous” incident unfolding before her, as she watched Adam Ian Fox pulling the woman from the house in East Stanley, head butting and punching her, during the 20-minute ordeal.

Durham Crown Court heard that Fox and the young woman had spent the night at the premises in Gullane Close, on January 9.

But, at mid-day on January 10 the neighbour heard a woman shouting for help and looked out to see Fox dragging her by the hair on a patio terrace outside the house.

Victoria Lamballe, prosecuting, said he eventually dragged her to a parked car, pulled her into the vehicle and drove away from the scene.

Police stopped the car not far away and arrested Fox, observing the woman with a swollen face and blood running from her nose.

Miss Lamballe said she appeared dazed and confused.

The court was told she was a reluctant witness and would not assist the prosecution, refusing to reveal her medical records of subsequent treatment.

When interviewed, Fox, 25, of Frank Street, Seaham, denied Violently removing her from the house, but at his plea hearing he admitted assault, causing her actual bodily harm.

The court heard his 20 convictions for 40 previous offences include three for violence, and the latest conviction put him in breach of a 10-week suspended prison sentence.

Dan Cordey, mitigating, said when Fox wanted to leave the house, his girlfriend was unwilling to go, and it was “fortunate” that he did not cause her more serious injuries, given the force used.

Jailing Fox for 13 months, Judge Christopher Prince said the witness’s “contemporaneous commentary” assisted the police response and the defendant’s ultimate conviction.