A Shildon man who inflicted two separate attacks on his fiancé has been jailed for two and half years.
Daniel Collingwood, of Ivatt Walk, Shildon, pulled the woman by her hair and punched her in the eye after becoming jealous of a conversation which she was having with her best friend’s partner.
She felt her eyeball move, her nose burst and was left with two black eyes.
Durham Crown Court heard that 12 days later, the 32-year-old became angry about a phone call the woman was having with her cousin.
He threw a glass tumbler at her head and she was left with a bleeding wound.
Chris Baker, prosecuting, told the court: “Mr Collingwood had been in a relationship with her for about four months. October 29 last year was due to be their wedding day, but due to Mr Collingwood’s behaviour, the wedding had been cancelled.”
The prosecutor said the woman had been on a telephone call with her cousin when her cousin had told her that she was “too good for Mr Collingwood” and the defendant was standing in the doorway.
He said: “Mr Collingwood, who had taken drugs, became angry and walked away, throwing a glass tumbler, which he had in his hand, at her with force.”
Mr Baker said the glass hit her on the top of the head and she started to bleed profusely. An ambulance was called and she was taken to hospital. There were shards of glass in her hair.
The court heard that the woman also told police officers about the incident which had taken place twelve days earlier.
She told officers Collingwood had become jealous of a conversation she was having with her best friend’s partner and had smashed a glass on the floor, pulled her by her hair, pulling her hair extensions out, and had punched her in the right eye.
Mr Baker said: “She felt her eye ball move and felt her nose burst. She had two black eyes and said her nose was now misshapen. She described not telling anyone about the assault as she was too embarrassed.”
The court heard how the woman, who wants to reconcile with Collingwood, has since retracted her statement and made a further statement to police.
Collingwood admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and wounding. The court heard how he has previous convictions for wounding with intent, battery and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Mark Styles, defending, told the court: “A previously pre-sentence report from 2019 speaks of impulsive and reckless behaviour and that is this man’s problem. He understands to keep away from drugs and drink. If he does that he can be a useful and productive member of society. He’s held down employment in the past as a roofer.”
Mr Styles said there were plans for a reconciliation between the couple.
He said: “Clearly he needs to understand if there’s any further offending that only custody is likely to follow for a case of domestic violence.”
He added: “He tells me he’s learnt his lesson and that the guilty plea on 31 October last year was a genuine expression of remorse.”
Miss Recorder, Jo Kidd sentenced Collingwood, who appeared in court via a video link to Durham Prison, to 30 months behind bars.
She told him: “What is clear to me is you have repeatedly appeared before the court for significant offences of violence. They involve offences involving women and I take the view you are a danger within a domestic context to women because when under the influence of drink and drugs you have no control of your anger.
“You display primarily abusive thinking patterns which leads to unprovoked attacks on defenceless women who are in intimate relationships with you.”
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
