A MAN who turned up angry and in drink at his ex-partner’s home proceeded to assault and threaten her.

Phil Cooper burst into the woman’s home in Stanley, pushing her over, and taking her in a headlock, at 8pm on Sunday, June 13.

Durham Crown Court heard that when she broke free and ran to get her phone, Cooper, who has past offences of domestic violence on his record, grabbed a knife and told her: “Do you want me to do what I did to my ex-wife?

A 40-minute row followed in which he ranted in her face and when she tried to run out, he punched her in the face four times.

Kate Barnes, prosecuting, said after police were alerted Cooper ran out, punching the windows and throwing a garden ornament at the door.

He drove off, but returned, kicked the house door and made threats to the next-door neighbour, threatening to burn her house down and fight her husband.

Cooper then got back into his Volkswagen Corsa and drove around the estate, followed by the police, before he braked hard, got out of the car and was arrested.

He gave a positive breath test for alcohol.

Cooper, 31, of Church Street, Trimdon, admitted threatening to damage or destroy property, assault causing actual bodily harm and driving with excess alcohol.

Oliver Connor, in mitigation, said he now accepts the prosecution case in full and is “genuinely remorseful”.

Judge James Adkin described it as a sustained incident and persistent assault which only merits an immediate prison sentence.

He imposed a 29-month prison sentence, banned Cooper from driving for 26 months and made him subject of a restraining order, prohibiting him from contacting or approaching his former partner for ten years.

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