Stephen McCLean – Heanor, Derbyshire

A violent thug who smashed his partner’s head, ripped chunks of her hair out and strangled her until she passed out has been jailed.

Stephen McCLean, 43, attacked the woman at her home address in Belper after the couple had an argument, and then assaulted the police officer who arrested him.

After the woman regained consciousness, she managed to fight him off and escape.

But the incident left her in hospital for three to four days where she was diagnosed with pneumonia and bruising and an infection in her lungs. “This made me realise how serious the incident was because I had never been in hospital before,” she said in a victim impact statement.

“After the incident, I was really confused and could not remember things in order. I could not stop shaking, the fear was debilitating. I felt really weak and unstable,” she continued.

“I have had trouble sleeping and been having nightmares, but I can’t remember them, I wake up and realise I am on my own and calm down. I have had flashbacks too: I find myself reliving the past situations.

“I have felt grief almost after all of this, for the loss of the relationship and had low mood that I am in this place again and now having to start all over again.”

McClean was arrested following the assault and taken to hospital due to having taken a large quantity of drugs. While waiting for treatment, he became aggressive and had to be restrained on the floor, and then bit one of the police officers on the hand.

The 43-year-old, of Gladstone Street, Heanor, was subsequently charged with intentional strangulation and assaulting an emergency worker by beating.

He admitted the offences and appeared at Derby Crown Court for sentencing on May 7 where he was jailed for 16 months.

He was also handed a restraining order preventing him from having any contact with the woman.