A HEAVILY pregnant woman has been jailed for her part in an ammonia attack on a man following a drunken row.

Ellie-Rose Midgley and her boyfriend Jordan Craggs went out in Consett armed with the corrosive liquid in a plastic bottle that the woman's mother had given her to use for protection.

Teesside Crown Court heard the pair had previously been assaulted by Midgely's former boyfriend and her mother decided it would be a good idea for her to arm herself.

A move the judge described as an 'incredible' and 'overwhelming' decision.

Jonathan Walker, prosecuting, said violence erupted in the early hours of June 9 last year when Midgely, pictured below, reacted badly to comments made to a friend of hers.

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He said the injured man has tried to act as a peacemaker before Midgely turned her fury on him and threw a drink in his face. As the confrontation continued CCTV footage showed Craggs trying to hold his girlfriend back but she managed to squeeze some of the caustic liquid into his face.

The injured man tried to push her away and that was when Craggs, pictured below, got hold of the bottle and squirted more of the liquid into his face causing severe damage to his right eye and significant damage to his left eye.

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Mr Walker said: "He (the victim) immediately felt a burning sensation to his eyes, nose and throat. He felt his throat begin to constrict and he was struggling to breathe.

"The male defendant was chased down the street and given some summary justice from bystanders."

The court heard that the injured man's injuries were not as serious as they could have been and his eyesight has not been damaged by the attack.

Mr Walker said Midgely was of previous good character but Craggs had received 21-months custody for an affray in Newcastle city centre in February 2017.

Craggs, 25, admitted causing grievous bodily with intent, a charge denied by his 21-year-old co-accused. She admitted the lesser offence of inflicting grievous bodily harm. Both also admitted possessing an offensive weapon.

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The ammonia attack took place on Front Street, Consett, in early hours of June 9 last year Picture: GOOGLE

Brian Russell, mitigating on behalf of Midgely, said his client's mother was not a good role model as she had a long history or offending.

He added: "In a couple of weeks she is due to give birth to her first child. She understands that doesn't give her a get out of jail free card."

Michael Hodson, mitigating for Craggs, said the defendant had tried to keep his girlfriend out of trouble on the night but had eventually became involved himself.

Judge Jonathan Carroll said: "Once it degenerated into a fight, Craggs, you became involved and you knew full well what you were doing. You took the bottle and the contents of the bottle directly into his face."

Craggs, of Finsmere Place, Blakelaw, Newcastle, was sentenced to five years and 49 weeks for GBH with intent and a concurrent nine month sentence for possession of the offensive weapon.

Midgeley, of Tyne Street, Chopwell, near Gateshead, was sentenced to two years and three months for GBH and a concurrent nine month sentence for the weapons offence.