BISHOP AUCKLAND MAN JAILED AFTER DRUNKEN VIOLENCE SPREE ON EX-PARTNER
A man with a history of violence was reported to have gone "berserk" after discovering his former partner at a male friend's residence.John Clemenson, aged 38, was involved in a disturbing assault which led to his imprisonment.
Durham Crown Court was informed that Clemenson began to knock on windows at the property in Bishop Auckland late on November 12.
Prosecutor Chris Baker stated that his now ex-partner described Clemenson opening the door before, "he went berserk" in the hallway, accusing her of being, “a f***ing slag”.
Clemenson then started to choke her, and despite attempts to pacify him, he escalated his rage.
He pushed her to the ground in the kitchen, punching and kicking her, which caused bruising and swelling, despite her efforts to shield her face.
After the attack, Clemenson shouted he would kill her as he ran from the house, wrongly believing the police were present.
Officers soon arrived and found that Clemenson had also ripped hair from her head and smashed her mobile phone.
The victim described the ordeal as lasting up to four minutes, leaving her with bruising, swellings, and soreness about her head and body.
Clemenson later returned to the house causing damage to doors but was arrested while heavily intoxicated.
On the day of his trial, Clemenson admitted to assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage before magistrates on December 20.
His criminal record includes previous offenses for violence, property damage, and public disorder.
Clemenson had been jailed for 14 months in January of the previous year but was released on license in September, just weeks prior to this incident.
Defense mitigation stated Clemenson, who struggled with drugs during the relationship, was "ashamed" of his actions that night.
His lawyer explained that Clemenson had been drinking heavily and had no recollection of the events that followed.
Judge James Adkin sentenced him to 32 months' imprisonment and issued a five-year restraining order preventing contact with his ex-partner, emphasizing, “You have a bad record for using violence and you were on license at the time.”
