Sunderland man pushed girlfriend through pane of glass during a 'sustained attack' after smoking a crack pipe and downing tablets

Frank Spencer, 34, who had been smoking a crack pipe for "most of the day" and downed around 45 yellow tablets, lashed out at his victim after the all day drug binge and then threw her out of the house.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the 20-year-old was left with black eyes, a swollen face, bruises, grazes and needed stitches to cuts caused when he pushed her into the glass.

Prosecutor Neil Pallister told the court the couple had been together in Spencer's home at Thelma Street, Sunderland, on May 19 and the violence flared in the early evening, after he became "edgy and argumentative".

Mr Pallister said: "She describes him getting right in her face, he grabbed a handful of her hair and dragged her around the living room, shouting at her.

"He admits he did strike her as he dragged her from room to room.

"At one point he let go of her, picked up a screwdriver and threatened her with it, thrusting it towards her.

"She recalls him hitting her with his keys which were on a lanyard he keeps around his neck."

The court heard Spencer's front window had been boarded up and the broken pane of glass left against a wall in the living room by the landlord.

Mr Pallister added: "He pushed her backwards onto the pane of glass, causing her to fall into it. She received a cut to her back and shoulder blade and a cut to one of her fingers."

The court heard Spencer pushed the injured woman out of the house and she was picked up by a passing police car after officers saw she was "covered in blood".

Officers then attended Spencer's home.

Mr Pallister added: "Police noticed blood in the bathroom, on the sofa by the window in the living room and on the ground outside the defendant's address"

Spencer pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding.

The victim, who admitted she had also "had a smoke" that day, said: "I am shocked Frankie would do this to me."

Judge Christopher Prince sentenced Spencer, who has been in custody on remand since the attack, to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, with drug rehabilitation and programme requirements plus a lifelong restraining order to keep him away from the woman.

The judge said the attack would have been "distressing and painful" but the public is better protected in the long term by Spencer's rehabilation.

Gavin Doig, defending, said Spencer has began to address his drug problems.

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