spencer maddison Domestic Abuser in Old Durham

A man who headbutted his former partner in front of her children while serving a suspended sentence for previous domestic abuse has been sentenced to 11 months in prison.

The woman ended her relationship with Spencer Maddison in May 2024, and the following month, she asked him to help her take her children to her mother's residence.

Once at her address on Tyneside, Maddison began probing about who she had been chatting with on Facebook.

An argument ensued when she told him she was free to do as she pleased since their relationship was over.

Despite the presence of children, Maddison then assaulted her.

Prosecutor Neil Jones told Newcastle Crown Court: "He grabbed her and headbutted her, resulting in a lump on her forehead and redness.

He also punched her in the back, causing further redness and a small scratch, and began verbally abusing her in front of the children." She managed to extricate herself from the situation through the back door, and Maddison left but later returned to the scene.

She discovered he had burned the initials "SM" into the outside window frame and the letter "S" into the front door.

The court was told this was Maddison’s second assault on her.

He had been given a 12-month suspended sentence last year for a previous attack, with seven months of that suspended.

An additional four months were activated for the assault causing actual bodily harm, and no separate penalty was assigned for the arson, which Maddison admitted committed.