Gateshead man who attacked ex after accusing her of 'selling herself' appears at Newcastle Crown Court

Darren Cornish had just got out of prison for assaulting the same woman when he bumped into her near her home in Newcastle last September, when she was seven months pregnant with his child.

Prosecutor Caroline McGurk told Newcastle Crown Court: "He accused her of cheating on him during the recent period of incarceration and selling herself on the internet.

"The defendant punched her approximately six times to the head and face, causing two cuts.

"At the time she was seven months pregnant with the defendant's child.”

In an impact statement the woman said: "Since he has been released from prison I have been in a constant state of fear of him.

"I'm absolutely petrified he may hurt myself or my child.

"I feel like he has ruined my life."

The woman later retracted her support for the prosecution.

Cornish, 33, of Tennyson Court, Gateshead, who has 70 offences on his record, admitted assault.

The court heard in August last year he had been jailed for eight weeks for common assault on the same victim, who he had again accused of cheating before he struck her face and left her with a black eye and other bruising.

This time, Mr Recorder Richard Herrmann sentenced him to two years behind bars.

Recorder Herrmann told Cornish: "She was in constant fear of you, petrified of what you might do."

Nicholas Lane, defending, said Cornish has suffered bereavements, has made progress in custody and needs to resolve drug and alcohol issues.

Mr Lane added: "He is deeply ashamed."