A MAN resorted to violence when an eleventh-hour attempt at a reconciliation with his partner was rebuffed, a court heard.

Craig Harry Fleming had been in an “on/off” relationship with the woman for ten years before she told him she wanted to end it, on September 29 last year.

Durham Crown Court was told Fleming arranged to go to her home the following evening, “to sort it out”, but he turned up later than agreed and under the influence of something, possibly drugs.

Jonathan Walker, prosecuting, said it led to an argument and she told him she was going to bed, but he accused her of blocking his messages and being in communication, “with other individuals”.

Mr Walker said Fleming’s now “ex” then sat down, but he angrily threatened to hit her with a crow bar and threw a cup at her face.

Fleming did then strike her with the bar as she attempted to speak to the police, but he prised the phone from her grasp and threw it away.

He then armed himself with a bread knife, lunging at her, but she managed to avoid being hit and ran upstairs.

Mr Walker said the terrified woman brought her two children from their beds and while still being struck by Fleming, ran from the house to a nearby field, near a phone box, which she used to call the police.

Although Fleming had left by the time officers got to the house, he was eventually arrested four days later.

Mr Walker said the woman was left with two black eyes, one swollen, plus other injuries to her face, back and hand.

Thirty-year-old Fleming, of Westmorland Place, Willington, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage, but only on the day of his scheduled trial, in February.

The court heard his 20-plus previous offences include an assault on a previous partner, for which he was jailed.

Chris Baker, mitigating, said although a background probation report on Fleming painted, “a bleak picture”, but he had made good progress addressing his issues while in custody awaiting sentence, since February.

Mr Baker said it will be his first significant prison sentence, but he plans to leave the area on his release.

Passing a prison sentence of two years and one month, with an unlimited restraining order prohibiting contact with his former partner, Judge Christopher Prince told Fleming he failed to learn the lesson following his previous prison sentence for assaulting another woman.