Sunderland thug jailed after twice attacking woman

Ben Mackie is beginning 26 weeks behind bars after a court decided that the case was so serious because of his “previous record of offences of domestic abuse”.

Mackie, 31, of Laws Street, Fulwell, Sunderland, attacked his latest victim in the city on February 15 and April 28 this year.

At the time he was serving a 16-week jail term, which had been suspended for 18 months, after he was convicted in November 2019 of twice assaulting a different woman in Houghton on July 20 last year.

South Tyneside Magistrates' Court have now triggered half of the original sentence while adding another 18 weeks for the 2020 offences.

He was convicted of the latest attacks last week after denying both charges.

Official documents released by the court say: “Defendant sentenced without a pre-sentence report because nothing in a pre-sentence report would dissuade from custody.”

Mackie was also ordered to pay £150 compensation to his latest victim, a £122 victim surcharge and £528 prosecution costs.

A 12-month restraining order additionally prevents him from contacting her directly or indirectly and from visiting any address where he knows her to live or work.

Victims of domestic abuse across the city can contact Wearside Women in Need on 0800 0665555 with details about further support also available from the http://www.northumbria-pcc.gov.uk website.

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