Shildon thug ‘flipped’ girlfriend attacking her after wedding

Shildon’s Anthony Gillan and his partner attended the celebration on April 15, 2023, where they enjoyed a night of drinking.

But Durham Crown Court was told the mood changed when they returned to the woman’s home.

Andrew Espley, prosecuting, told the court: “He suddenly flipped, punching and slapping her and stamping on her head, before pushing her into a bed frame.”

Gillan also grabbed her by the neck, pulled out her hair extensions and punched her again when she tried to flee, before throwing her out of her own home.

In clear distress, she rang a friend and reported the attack.

Police found her crying, suffering several injuries, which they photographed.

In the days that followed, Gillan sent her deeply offensive and degrading messages.

After his arrest, he tried to explain the injuries by claiming his partner liked rough sex, including being strangled by him.

He denied committing any offences, but changed his pleas on the day of his recent trial, admitting intentional strangulation and assault causing actual bodily harm.

Gillan, 39, of Redworth Road, was said to have 12 convictions for 21 offences, including battery on a former partner, in 2020.

Mr Espley said the victim of these offences had no desire to move and chose not to make an impact statement.

Robert Mochrie, in mitigation, said Gillan eventually pleaded guilty, “albeit with some reluctance”, after his trial began.

“He’s struggled with his memory of that night due to the amount of alcohol consumed by both parties during the day after the wedding.”

Mr Mochrie said a long time had passed since the offence and Gillan is now in good employment, leading a four-strong team of gas engineers working in London.

He added: “In his absence all of those men would lose their employment.”

Judge Nathan Adams told Gillan: “You subject her (his then partner) to a horrendous and prolonged assault in her own home.

“She was beaten repeatedly, punched, kicked, stamped upon and dragged by the hair.”

The judge said Gillan subjected her to, “a torrent of abusive, degrading messages” over the following days.

Judge Adams said Gillan appeared to minimise his actions when interviewed by the Probation Service after changing his pleas on the day of trial.

“Despite your claims, you were quite clearly the aggressor that night.

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“It was a serious and sustained attack in a domestic situation in the victim’s own home.”

Judge Adams sentenced Gillan to 22 months in prison and issued a restraining order.

It prohibits him from approaching or contacting the victim for ten years.