A MAN who dragged his partner down a street, threatening to throw her off nearby cliffs, following a sustained attack, was yesterday (Friday August 27) jailed for 35 months.

John Bridgewater, who has a “significant record” for violence, “flipped” when his partner confronted him, suspecting he had relapsed into drug taking, despite his assurances to the contrary, in the early hours of April 24.

Durham Crown Court heard that he dragged her down stairs, before slapping her round the head, opening the door and throwing her out of the house.

The frightened woman decided to go to the home of one of Bridgewater’s cousins, nearby, but a short time later the defendant turned up and dragged her out of that house.

He grabbed her from behind and landed a flurry of punches to the back of her head, and when she dropped to the ground, he kicked her repeatedly round her legs and the rest of her body.

Bridgewater then said he was going to take her to the nearby cliffs, in Easington Colliery, and throw her off.

Mr O’Brien said the woman had, by now, given up hope of offering any resistance and felt there was no way she could escape.

“She was at his mercy and genuinely believed he would throw her from the cliffs.”

Mr O’Brien said she begged a passing dog walker to call the police, but he said he did not have a phone.

Bridgewater then threatened the 68-year-old man and kicked his pet pug/French bull dog, Bill, the second time thrusting him into the air.

Police were summoned by the dog walker, who flagged down a patrol car, and the two officers inside found Bridgewater and his partner at a bench on the cliff top.

Bridgewater was arrested and the woman was taken to hospital suffering extensive swelling and bruising round her face and body.

The 32-year-old victim said she has lost confidence and is reluctant to get drawn into new relationship, as a result of the attack, which she relives in flashbacks and nightmares.

Bridgewater, 28, of Boston Street, Easington Colliery, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and threatening behaviour.

Martin Scarborough, mitigating, said Bridgewater met the woman when he was in a rehabilitation unit and accepts he moved in with her “too soon” on leaving, having not fully overcome his problems with alcohol and drugs.

He now hopes to address these issues while in prison.

Jailing him, Judge Christopher Prince said it was a sustained, prolonged attack on a vulnerable victim, and, “no doubt, terrifying for her.”

The judge also formally commended the 68-year-old dog walker, a retired miner, for trying to intervene on the victim’s behalf, before being threatened himself.

A restraining order was imposed forbidding Bridgewater from trying to contact her, for life.