The case was heard at Newcastle Crown Court (Picture: PA)

A woman has been spared jail after she subjected her boyfriend to a horrific campaign of domestic violence.

Beth Watson punched boyfriend Jonathan Anderson in the face and bit him as their relationship came to an end.

He was too embarrassed to report the domestic violence for some time, but when it escalated he finally plucked up the courage to seek help.

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Watson, 21, has been given a suspended prison sentence and a restraining order at Newcastle Crown Court.


Mr Anderson told the court: ‘I can’t say enough, she scares me and I’m frightened of her.

‘I can’t go on like this, I’m very stressed about my job. I’m very worried, miserable and I’ve been diagnosed with depression.’



The court heard they had been in a relationship for three years but decided to split earlier last year, although continued living together in Corbridge, Northumberland.

Prosecutor Neil Pallister said: ‘They stopped being partners because of her controlling behaviour towards him.’

Mr Anderson moved to a new address in Corbridge but Watson, who was meant to be going to live elsewhere, followed him and moved in.

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Mr Pallister said: ‘The defendant’s unacceptable behaviour continued. Mr Anderson said he would sleep on the sofa because he was, in his words, petrified of the defendant.

‘Matters came to a head on February 12 this year when they were both at the address on Middle Street, Corbridge.

‘The defendant flew into a rage, as she was wont to do. She was screaming at him and used a hammer to smash his mobile phone.’

Mr Anderson had to leave the house and an ambulance was called and arrived, along with the police and Watson was taken to hospital with a suspected overdose.

Mr Pallister said: ‘Mr Anderson explained he didn’t really want to report that incident at the time as he felt embarrassed about having to explain what was going on.

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‘He said he didn’t think men suffered from domestic violence. However he did report it when there was a further incident on March 6.’

On March 6 Watson went to The Angel pub, in Corbridge, where Mr Anderson was working.

Mr Pallister said: ‘She believed Mr Anderson was in a relationship with a female colleague. The defendant attended his place of work looking for the woman and was abusive.

‘The woman was not present and the defendant then knocked items from the reception desk on to the floor, including a till.

‘Police were called and spoke to Mr Anderson and he told them the problems he was having and the abuse he had suffered at her hands.’

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Earlier that day, Watson had also put an abusive message on Facebook asking where the other woman was, calling her an abusive name and threatening to ‘bleed her like a pig’, adding: ‘I’m coming for you’.

Later that night Mr Anderson was at home with a friend when Watson burst in.



Mr Pallister said: ‘The front door suddenly opened and the defendant entered. Mr Anderson said she was very angry, her face was full of aggression and she stormed towards him.

‘She punched him five times to the face. Her arms were swinging round and he tried to get hold of her arms and she was shouting.

‘They ended up in the corner of the room behind the settee. She was facing the wall and he pushed her body against the wall as she continued lashing out violently.

‘She turned her body round facing him and her face came towards his and she bit him on the left cheek.

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‘It was extremely painful and he tried to pull his face away and again felt her biting in the same place.

‘He pushed her away and she fell to the floor, she she was screaming, they are described as piercing screams.’

The court heard a knife was later recovered from the floor but there was no evidence of Watson having brandished it.

Mr Armstrong was left with bite marks on his cheek and forearm and brusing to his body, but no lasting scarring.

When police arrived Watson then struggled with a female police officer and left her with bruising and swelling to her thumb.

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Watson, from Haydon Bridge, Northumberland, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, making a malicious communication, two counts of criminal damage and resisting a PC.

She was given four months suspended for 18 months with 100 hours unpaid work, rehabilitation and a five year restraining order banning him from contacting Mr Anderson.


Judge Tim Gittins told her: ‘You suggest he was carrying out an affair behind your back but whether that’s right or wrong, your approach was wholly inappropriate and criminal.

‘You used violence and threats towards him and the other female you thought was involved, rightly or wrongly.

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‘You are forunate you didn’t do significant damage to him. If you were being sentenced for causing permanent scarring to somebody’s face you would be looking at years in prison.

‘Offences of domestic violence, whether the perpetrator is male or female, are often committed behind closed doors with victims embarrassed or ashamed to report it.

‘There is a need to bring such offences out in to the open and make it clear they will not be tolerated, whoever the victim and whatever the background.’

Mark Saunders, defending, said: ‘There were feelings of jealousy and a lack of trust and she dealt with the situation badly.

‘She’s in full-time work with people with dementia. She has moved on and is in a new relationship.’