COUNTY DURHAM MAN SENTENCED FOR ASSAULTING EX-GIRLFRIEND DURING ALCOHOL-FUELED KARAOKE NIGHT
A woman barricaded herself in a bedroom after being assaulted by her ex-partner during a drunken night of karaoke.Neil Scott punched his former partner in the face following a discussion about their relationship.The couple had a 22-year on-off relationship, but after they split, the woman entered a same-sex relationship.
Scott believed she was going to re-ignite their relationship and get married, but became violent when he found out she intended to continue her relationship.On Tuesday, Scott, of South End Villas, Crook, County Durham, appeared in Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The 48-year-old pleaded guilty to the charge.The court heard that Scott and the woman had an on-off relationship for 22 years, which ended before the incident.
On March 12, 2022, Scott was living in Walker, Newcastle, when the woman visited for drinks.
According to prosecutor Antonia Adie, "The complainant and the defendant were sitting in the living room drinking and singing karaoke." The court was told that Scott believed their relationship was over and that they discussed marriage, but assaulted the woman when she said she would remain in her new relationship.Ms Adie stated: "The defendant was angry she was in the relationship and began punching the speaker and shouting in her face.
He was punching the living room door and the complainant threw a drink over him.
The defendant told her to leave and tried to remove her while calling her a 'dirty f*****'.
He then struck the victim to her face.
She barricaded herself in the bedroom and called police."Police found Scott intoxicated and argumentative upon arrival.
It was revealed he had 16 previous convictions for 22 offences, including an assault against the same woman.Defence solicitor Brian Hegarty described their relationship as 'toxic'.
He said: "The reason for the conflict between the two was the fact she maintained a relationship with this woman after [Scott] believed the relationship was over.
He accepts his anger got the better of him." Hegarty added that Scott had since moved on and was in a new relationship with no history of domestic violence.
Scott, who had worked as a roofer but recently been out of work due to injury, was sentenced to a 12-month community order and was ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation days, a 26-day programme, and pay £250 in costs.
