DARLINGTON MAN SMASHED PARTNER'S HEAD OFF WINDOW ON CHRISTMAS DAY
A boozed-up thug smashed his partner's head off a window after arming himself with a knife when she told him to lay off the booze on Christmas Day.Reece Bridge first shoved her into a wall when she suggested they go home, then turned on their hosts, punching a woman in the face and her partner in the arm before grabbing a knife from the kitchen and tucking it into his waistband.
Petrified, the woman went upstairs to check on her children and ring police, where she looked outside to see Bridge taking hold of his partner’s head and banging it into a neighbour’s window.
Durham Crown Court heard that Bridges initially became agitated when his partner said they should go home, and when the woman’s friend stood up to remonstrate, Bridges told her: “Do you want to go as well?” Chris Baker, prosecuting, said the defendant threw a punch at her, striking her face and causing pain.
Her husband then stood up to protect his wife and Bridges landed a painful blow, striking the man's arm while wearing a pyramid ring.
Bridges suggested they should go outside to “have it out”, but the householder told him to "get out”, which he did, after first arming himself with a 7in-bladed knife from the house kitchen, tucking it into his waistband.
Mr Baker said the female householder went upstairs to check on her children and to ring for the police.
She looked outside and could see Bridges taking hold of his partner’s head and banging it into a neighbour’s window.
A number of other neighbours came out to see what was going on.
Bridges was seen crossing the street with his shirt removed, chasing after and punching his partner, who shouted: “Get off me”.
She ran from him, but he chased her and knocked her to the ground, before grabbing her again by the hair.
When police arrived in the street at 11pm she was found in her nightwear crying, trying to hide in a doorway.
She said to officers that Bridges had assaulted her but asked them not to tell him she had told them that.
Bridges ran back into the house to dispose of the knife and when the officers reached the property to arrest him, he tensed up and made for the door, shouting: “Come on then, ha’way!” He tensed up again and pushed the officers to the floor, so they deployed their tasers to enable them to complete his arrest.
Mr Baker said Bridge’s partner was reluctant to talk and eventually decided not to assist the police investigation.
But the couple whose home the incident took place speak of their shock and fear, plus their concern, at the time, for the welfare of their children.
Bridges, then 28, now aged 29, of Durham Road, Coatham Mundeville, Darlington, who has been in custody since December 27, appeared at court via video link from Holme House Prison, Stockton.
His previous admitted to four counts of assault by beating, possession of a knife in public and resisting police.
The court heard he has 17 previous convictions for 28 offences, including several for violence both in England and Scotland.
Imposing prison sentences totaling 19 months, the Recorder also put in place restraining orders of five years for all three victims of violence.
