A brute who attacked his former partner during a visit to her home has kept his freedom.

Kyle Heathfield and the woman, who has since passed away, had been drinking before an argument started in the early hours of February 7, 2025.

Newcastle Crown Court heard police attended and removed Heathfield from the property, in Sunderland, although he returned within hours.

Prosecutor Ian Cook said the woman called the police again and added: “At this time the defendant had been pushing her in the living room.

The Sunderland case was heard at Newcastle Crown Court.

placeholder image — The Sunderland case was heard at Newcastle Crown Court.

“She ran outside in the street and called the police. After a short time she went back inside and he continued to push her around the living room."

Heathfield, 34, of Windmill Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, who has 88 convictions on his record, admitted common assault.

The court heard Heathfield and the woman, who died in May last year, had known each other since 2016 and had been in a brief relationship but stayed friends.

Tony Cornberg, defending, said Heathfield, who has mental health disorders, has fully engaged with probation officials and has good references.

Recorder Simon Eckersley sentenced Heathfield to a community order for 12 months.

The recorder told him: “It is a serious offence because it is an assault of a woman in her own home, in a domestic violence context, in the early hours of the morning, when you were in drink.”