Sunderland man spared jail for Christmas Day assault on mother of his three children

The actions of Aden Collins, 25, of Thorndale Road, Thorney Close, led his former partner Rebecca Thompson to fall and bang her left eyebrow against a windowsill, causing bruising and swelling.

South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard the incident happened while the couple’s three children were present, aggravating the offence – and that Collins had previous assault convictions against her.

District Judge Paul Currer sentenced him to 12 weeks in jail, suspended for 18 months, and imposed a five-year restraining order, telling Collins: “The last thing the children need to see is their mum being injured on Christmas Day.”

Prosecutor Lorna Rimell said: “The couple have been in a relationship for about seven years, and there are three children from this relationship.

“This all happened on Christmas Day, late in the evening. The defendant is somewhat in drink. She asks him to quieten down.

“He comes up to her and pulls the chair from under her. She’s hit her left eyebrow on the windowsill, and it’s caused her injury. She has swelling to her eyebrow, which has started to bruise.

“The defendant has previous convictions that are relevant to this lady. The aggravating features are that he is in drink and children were present.”

Bushra Begum, defending, told the court Collins had been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a result of long-standing personal issues.

She added: “It’s a serious offence, there were children present. Mr Collins clearly needs some intervention, there appears to be a great deal of work that needs to be done with Mr Collins. He is remorseful, and he is ashamed.”

Collins, who pleaded guilty to assault by beating, must also undertake 18 days of rehabilitation work with the Probation Service, take part in the Building Better Relationships programme and pay Ms Thompson £200 compensation.The restraining order prevents him contacting Ms Thompson except through a third party for childcare and attending any address where she resides.