Newcastle Man Jailed For Attack On Girlfriend

17 February 2015, 16:10 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A Newcastle man broke his girlfriend's back in four places during a attack because she had a night out with her friends.

Lindsey Pringle was knocked unconscious after falling backwards into a bath during the shocking assault by Curtis Storey.

She was left hospitalised for 12 days with four spinal fractures, two cracked teeth and a mark to her retina which may never go away.

The frightened 35-year-old, who suffers from osteoporosis, was left needing crutches to walk around and fears her eye injury may mean she can never drive again.

At the time of the attack, Storey, 21, was on a community order after stabbing Miss Pringle in the neck with a car key during an earlier row.

He has a previous conviction for harassment of another partner.

At Newcastle Crown Court Mr Recorder Palmer jailed Storey, of Branxton Crescent, Walker, Newcastle, who admitted causing grievous bodily harm, for two-and-a-half years.

Storey was made the subject of a lifelong restraining order, banning any further contact with his victim.

The judge told him:
"Months after the attack she is still suffering considerably from the effects of what happened."

"You have to understand, it is a very serious attack which has caused her very serious injury indeed."

"You are not to contact her again."

The court heard on August 24 last year Storey was on a night out in Newcastle city with pals and thought Miss Pringle was staying in.

Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw told the court:
"His understanding was she would be staying at home, she didn't, she went out with friends."

"He met her in one of the bars in the city centre and he took exception to the fact he felt he had been lied to."

The court heard Miss Pringle, who had had just one drink, decided to go home when an argument started but Storey followed her into the taxi.

It was in the bathroom at her home the violence flared.

Mr Wardlaw added:
"She went to the bathroom. He followed her. He pushed her so she was up against the wall.

"She was struck to the head, twice."

"The force of one of the blows was such she fell backwards into the bath, she hit her head on the sink and lost consciousness."

The court heard Miss Pringle has been left frightened because of what happened and told police she does not want Storey "anywhere near her".

Tony Hawks, defending said:
"There's not a great deal to be said, I'm afraid, it is not an attractive picture."

"He is an inadequate and immature 21-year-old, who plainly has difficulty in forming adult relationships with women."

"He was completely out of his depth in the relationship."