MIDDLESBROUGH MAN JAILED FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ASSAULT

Owen Harris, aged 21 and from Shevington Grove, Marton, was found guilty of multiple serious offenses. He attacked his girlfriend in front of her four-year-old child, resulting in injuries such as a fractured eye socket, broken nose, broken wrist, and extensive bruising. Harris had a history of threats, including one to damage his aunt's vehicle, and displayed unpredictable conduct, partly due to his diagnosed ADHD and previous hospitalization for psychotic episodes. He chose to stop taking his prescribed medication voluntarily, turning instead to alcohol and drugs like cannabis and cocaine, which correlated with his mental health issues. Harris appeared at Teesside Crown Court via video from Durham prison, where he had been held in solitary confinement for months. The court sentenced him to six years in prison, with the possibility of release after four years, and issued a lifelong restraining order to prevent contact with his former partner. During the sentencing, Judge Nathan Adams discussed Harris’s troubled past, psychiatric assessments, and the consequences for the victim. The court recognized Harris’s mental health struggles but emphasized that these do not excuse his violent conduct. A representative from Cleveland Police’s Domestic Abuse Unit praised the verdict and commended the victim's bravery. Harris’s actions have caused profound trauma and difficulties for his ex-girlfriend and her young son.