MAN ATTACKED PARTNER TWICE IN THREE DAYS
A man jailed for two assaults on his now ex-partner should be released from prison almost immediately due to time served on remand.David Langley, 44, was sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment at Durham Crown Court, on Monday (September 8) after changing plea and admitting two counts of assault by beating of the same woman, two days apart in December last year.
He was due to go on trial for those and three other counts this week, but as the prosecution found his two guilty pleas to be acceptable, there is now no need for the case to be tried.
Prosecutor Jonathan Gittins stated that until last December, Langley and his then partner had been in a relationship for about three years.
The incident stemmed from a row after Langley returned to her flat in Easington Colliery around 7 pm on December 13, during which he became aggressive, pinned her to the wall, and after a struggle, both ended on the bed where Langley threatened to “smash her face in”.
He then pulled her to the floor and stamped on her but stopped when he panicked.
Langley suggested they “get stoned” to ease her pain, and the victim reported suffering pain to her right shoulder and bruising.
Two days later, there was another row over money for the gas meter, during which Langley’s partner went upstairs to use the phone; he was heard in the background making threats and slapped her in the face, causing her to drop the device.
Langley left saying he was going to destroy her flat.
When police arrested him, he claimed she had been abusive to him two days earlier and denied using any violence, claiming she had stamped on his face and that the noises heard may have been him kicking the skirting board in frustration.
She told police he treated her “like a dog” and abused her, and she had tried to end the relationship several times but was too scared of what he might do.
Langley has 25 convictions for 36 offences, including seven for violence against the person, with his last offence for criminal damage in September last year.
He originally denied the assault charges and other counts, but his guilty pleas have led to the current sentencing.
Judge Jo Kidd said the victim’s vulnerabilities were obvious and sentenced him to four and three months, totalling seven, with the possibility of immediate release due to time already served.
A five-year restraining order was also imposed, prohibiting him from contacting or approaching his ex-partner.
