Sunderland man admits shoving mobile phone into partner's face

Ryan Crinson, 38, also grabbed her upper arms when he assaulted her on Wednesday, March 11, at his home in Amble Tower, Gilley Law.

The woman suffered bruising to her arms but did not make a statement against him and his solicitor said it was unclear if the phone had made contact.

But at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, via video link from HMP Durham where he was on remand, Crinson pleaded guilty to a charge of assault by beating.

As punishment, magistrates ordered him to pay the woman £200 compensation and fined him £140.

Prosecutor Glenda Beck said: “The injured party confirms that they had been in a relationship for around two years.

“Since Christmas 2025 it had been on and off due to his drink and drug habits which affected his behaviour.

“The injured party says she attended Mr Crinson’s address, and he began shouting and tried to stop her leaving.

“She went to the lift to leave. She said that he hit her in the face with his mobile phone and grabbed her arms.

“It was noted that she had bruising to both her upper arms. The injured party didn’t provide a statement at the time, but it was captured on footage.”

The court heard Crinson committed the assault while subject to a suspended prison sentence, imposed last September for possession of an offensive weapon and affray.

Tom Morgan, mitigating, said: “What Mr Crinson has done is argue in a lift. He pushed a phone towards the face of the complainant.

“It is very difficult to discern whether the phone makes contact, but he hasn’t sought to challenge that and has entered a guilty plea at the first opportunity that arose.

“He was at his home address and the complainant attended and there was an argument, they then continued that argument as she was leaving.

Magistrates ordered that the crown court which imposed the suspended sentence be made aware of his assault conviction.

They heard he will be immediately released from prison.