Sunderland man who punched his partner in the face after drunken row admits his behaviour was 'absolutely appalling'

Anthony John Paul Brogan, 40, admitted a charge of assault when he appeared before South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

Kirstie Devine, prosecuting, said the incident happened on October 27 last year.

She said Brogan, of Edwin Street, had gone out and his partner had been trying to contact him.

Ms Devine said this had involved sending messages to him and even contacting his mother to see if she knew where he was.

The prosecutor said when the defendant returned home he started swearing at his partner about why she had contacted his mother.

She said whilst holding one of his children in his arms, the defendant had pulled his partner’s hair and punched her in the face.

Reading from the victim’s statement, Ms Devine said she didn’t want her children around this sort of behaviour.

She said: “I am scared that next time he might kill me or hurt one of the children.”

Ms Devine said there was an application for a restraining order.

Brogan, who was not represented in court, said he had drunk too much alcohol at the time and because of what happened he no longer drinks.

He said he is also having counselling because he doesn’t want anything like this to happened again.

The dad-of-two said: “My behaviour was absolutely appalling, I couldn’t condone it in any way. I am absolutely disgusted in myself.”

He said on the day in question he and his now former partner had been disagreeing throughout the day.

Brogan said: “Selfishly I went to the pub and started drinking. The arguments continued over messages. It got ridiculously out of hand.”

He went on to say: “I am here today to hold my hands up. My behaviour was unacceptable, and I have to be held accountable for it.”

Brogan was given a two-year community order and told to pay £85 costs and a £90 surcharge. He was also made the subject of a two-year restraining order not to contact his former partner.