Man must avoid alcohol over Christmas or risk jail

A man who attacked his girlfriend and damaged her home in a drunken rampage has been warned not to drink alcohol over Christmas or he could be jailed.

Stephen Auton, 36, from Sunderland, punched his partner of five years in the face and then damaged kitchen units and a TV in January, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Judge Andrew Stubbs KC said Auton's problem was alcohol and, having been held on remand at HMP Durham since the violent night, he would be given a "chance" rather than stay in prison.

Auton, who admitted assault and criminal damage, was made subject of a two year community order, which bans him from drinking booze for at least 100 days and he must be monitored by an alcohol-detection device.

"You're coming out before Christmas and there will be a massive temptation to drink," the judge told Auton, adding drinking alcohol would put him in breach and bring him back to court.

The court heard Auton, of Yewtree Avenue, and the woman had been out with friends on 28 January but after they returned home he punched her causing cuts to her nose.

As she fled to a neighbour's house to call police, Auton smashed up her home, prosecutor Vincent Ward said.

In a short statement read to the court, the woman said she feared Auton would kill her.

Judge Stubbs said it was a "really nasty" attack which attracted a prison sentence.

But because Auton had already spent so long in prison, during which time he had received help for alcohol addiction, the judge said he would be released immediately with a "package of help" to keep him sober.

"If you can address your drinking problem, I'm pretty confident you can stay out of trouble," Judge Stubbs said, adding: "I'm giving you the chance to make those choices."

Auton told the court: "Alcohol has ruined my life, I'm determined to stay away from it totally."

A restraining order banning Auton from contacting the woman or attending her address for five years was also made.

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