SUNDERLAND MAN JAILED FOR BRUTAL ASSAULT ON GIRLFRIEND

A man who severely assaulted his new girlfriend, resulting in a broken jaw, has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison. Scott Gibson, aged 23, had attacked her multiple times during their month-long relationship, including strangulation and physical assault, after threatening to kill her when they first met. The court heard that Gibson, of Pancras Road in Plains Farm, Sunderland, started his violence within two weeks of their relationship, becoming jealous and insecure, and threatening her if she did not delete male friends from social media. He also locked her in his home, causing her to bang her head, and on one occasion in May, after taking cocaine, he knocked her unconscious in a pub and later dragged her to the ground, leaving her with black eyes, swelling, and a burst lip. Despite being released on bail with a condition not to contact her, Gibson arranged to meet her again, threatened her on a bus, pushed her over a wall, punched her repeatedly, broke her jaw, and strangled her, forcing her to run into traffic to escape. The victim, a mother of two, expressed her fear and trauma, stating she was "terrified" of Gibson and now wary of relationships. Gibson admitted charges including intentional strangulation, inflicting grievous bodily harm, and assault, and was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison. The court recognized his remorse but acknowledged the significant impact of his actions on the woman, who "should have been safe and enjoying the early days of a relationship."