NORTHUMBERLAND MAN AVOIDS JAIL WITH COMMUNITY ORDER AFTER DOMESTIC ASSAULT
A drunk boyfriend left his partner with cuts to her lip and loose teeth after punching her in the face.Callum Crozier had been calling the woman names, which prompted her to jump on to him, during an argument at their home.
A court heard the 30-year-old then lashed out with his fist, striking the victim in the face and causing injuries.
She was taken to hospital where she needed treatment for cuts to her lip and loose teeth, prosecutors said.
Crozier, of West Road, in Prudhoe, was arrested and charged with causing grievous bodily harm without intent.
He pleaded not guilty to the offence at a hearing at Newcastle Magistrates' Court earlier this year and the case was listed for trial.
However, he changed his plea on the day his trial was due to start on the basis that the attack was not entirely unprovoked and the victim had jumped on him.
Warren Ridley, prosecuting, said Crozier and his partner had been out on March 2 2024 and had returned to their Ovingham home.
Mr Ridley added: "They argued.
There was some name calling from the defendant and the injured party was dragged around by her hair.
He attempted to strangle her and she was struck in the face." The court heard that the victim was not supportive of the prosecution and had since moved to the Lake District.
Hannah Mostoufi, defending, said Crozier only had one past conviction, which wasn't for violence, and was remorseful.
She added: "He did plead guilty on a basis and that is that he was asleep on the sofa and he woke up and [the victim] got on top of him and was attacking him.
He pushed her off but then he did strike her, which did cause the injuries.
"It was not an entirely unprovoked attack but he did cross the boundary of self-defence.
It was impulsive and spontaneous and no weapon was used.
She may have acted in the way she did because of the comments he made to her." Crozier was given an 18-month community order, with 160 hours of unpaid work, and must abide by an alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement, which bans him from drinking alcohol, for 90 days.
He must also pay £350 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
