Sunderland yob who ripped off woman’s niqab jailed after attacking former female friend with hammer while out on licence

Peter Scotter, 58, hit the woman on the head with the tool in a pub in Sunderland, causing a 5.5cm laceration to the top of her head after she spurned his advances.At the time of the attack Scotter was on licence for racially aggravated common assault after he tore a headscarf from a Muslim woman in The Bridges shopping centre.Scotter had told his victim, "you're in our country now, get out", and, "our Britain, you live by our rules", as racial tension in the country ran high in the days after Britain voted to leave the EU

He was jailed for 15 months before being released on licence.Newcastle Crown Court heard how at around 10pm on September 3 last year Scotter entered The Charltons pub in Sunderland.Harry Hadfield, prosecuting, told the court the victim regarded him as a friend until he asked her to be his girlfriend, after which she avoided him.Mr Hadfield said: "She was standing at the bar and recalls the defendant spoke to her."What she felt was a painful blow to the top of her head and when she looked up what she saw was the defendant with a hammer in his hand."She was struck with a hammer, one blow, when they were face to face."Scotter was then escorted out by other people in the pub.Mr Hadfield told the court that in her victim impact statement the woman had said she had done absolutely nothing to deserve the attack, felt he could have "killed her" and was now anxious to leave her home.In relation to the most recent case Anthony Hawks, defending, said: "The background is that despite what the complainant says, it is she who wanted to have a relationship with the defendant who is married. He declined that."Mr Hawks said that Scotter said she had begun a campaign, including posts on social media against him.” Mr Recorder Andrew Dallas sentenced Scotter, of Hendon Close, Sunderland, to 12-months imprisonment.