Man warned against Christmas drinking after assault conviction

A man convicted of assaulting his girlfriend and causing damage to her residence during an alcohol-fueled incident has received a caution against consuming alcohol during the Christmas period, with the potential consequence of imprisonment. Stephen Auton, aged 36, of Sunderland, assaulted his partner of five years by punching her in the face before damaging kitchen units and a television set in January, according to proceedings at Newcastle Crown Court. Judge Andrew Stubbs KC identified alcohol as Auton’s underlying issue, noting that after being held on remand at HMP Durham since the night of the violence, he would be granted a “chance” instead of remaining incarcerated. Auton, who pleaded guilty to charges of assault and criminal damage, was placed under a two-year community order. This order prohibits him from consuming alcohol for a minimum of 100 days and mandates monitoring via an alcohol-detection device. “You’re coming out before Christmas and there will be a massive temptation to drink,” the judge informed Auton, further stating that alcohol consumption would constitute a breach of his order and result in his return to court. The court was informed that Auton, residing at Yewtree Avenue, and the woman had been out with friends on 28 January. Upon their return home, he struck her, resulting in cuts to her nose. While she sought refuge at a neighbour’s house to contact the police, Auton proceeded to damage her home, according to prosecutor Vincent Ward. A brief statement read aloud in court conveyed the woman’s fear that Auton would kill her. Judge Stubbs characterized the assault as a “really nasty” attack, one that would typically warrant a prison sentence. However, given that Auton had already spent a considerable period in prison, during which he received assistance for alcohol addiction, the judge stated that he would be released immediately with a “package of help” designed to maintain his sobriety. “If you can address your drinking problem, I’m pretty confident you can stay out of trouble,” Judge Stubbs remarked, further stating: “I’m giving you the chance to make those choices.” Auton informed the court: “Alcohol has ruined my life, I’m determined to stay away from it totally.” Additionally, a restraining order was issued, prohibiting Auton from contacting the woman or visiting her address for a duration of five years. For those impacted by the matters discussed in this report, assistance and support are accessible through the BBC Action Line. BBC Sunderland can be followed on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Story ideas may be submitted to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available for review.