Gary Burton, 38, of Gateshead, was jailed for six years and nine months at Newcastle Crown Court after admitting attempted grievous bodily harm against Stacey Walker and assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Lauren Martin. The court heard he subjected both women to a sustained and brutal attack after "losing it" over claims of infidelity while celebrating his birthday.
Burton had invited both women to join him for his 38th birthday in March this year. The court heard he had been drinking from 8am that morning and crack cocaine had also been consumed. After an argument about his fidelity and remarks about his family which he took umbrage at, he launched the attack.
Police called to flats
At around 3.20am on March 3, police attended a block of flats in Gateshead following a phone call describing an ongoing violent incident in which Burton was repeatedly attacking two women in the foyer. Officers found one woman outside screaming in pain and covered in blood. She said her injuries were at the hands of Burton and that he still had the second woman.
CCTV footage showed the three coming down the stairs. Burton began by pushing the second woman around and blocking her exit before smashing her phone. He then grabbed her by the head and pushed her to the floor, and approached the first woman in a confrontational manner.
Fifteen-minute assault
Robin Turton, prosecuting, said: "The defendant then left the flats again and grabbed hold of (the second woman), who was now on her feet and pulled her back to the ground. The defendant walks over to (the first woman) as she is on the phone and strikes her three times to the face with enough force to knock her to the floor."
Mr Turton described how Burton dragged the second woman backwards to the floor, stamped on her twice, and kicked her to the face and head. He punched the first woman, smashed her phone on the floor three times, pulled her down by her hair, and punched her in an uppercut style. The assault lasted just shy of 15 minutes.
Mr Turton added: "Thereafter for just shy of 15 minutes, this defendant assaults both women repeatedly and persistently, throwing them to the floor, kicking them punching them and, to (the second woman), stamps down on her face and head several times."
Previous convictions
Both women refused to support the prosecution, but officers obtained images of their injuries at the time. Burton has 33 previous convictions, including wounding with intent where he attacked his friend with a meat cleaver, leaving a gaping wound, for which he was jailed for 78 months.
Judge Robert Spragg told him: "You subjected them to a 15 minute brutal assault. You assaulted both of them repeatedly and persistently, throwing them to the floor, kicking and punching them and stamping on (one woman's) head and face several times." He added: "You used gratuitous violence for a sustained period on two women, both of whom you had been in a relationship with."
Burton said he had "just f****** lost it" and was ashamed as he "loves them both". Glenn Gatland, defending, said Burton wants to stay away from drink and drugs when he is released, adding: "He is man who has turned the corner. He has made significant progress in prison."
The court heard he has entrenched issues with drugs and is in debt which he believes has led to a bounty being on his head in prison. Due to being branded dangerous, Burton will be on an extended licence of a further four years.
