Thuggish footballer, 31, who attacked his partner just weeks after he was spared prison for trying to control his ex is jailed for two years

A footballer has been jailed for attacking his partner just weeks after being spared prison for trying to control his ex.

Damien Stevens was given a suspended prison sentence in July after repeatedly assaulting and using emotional and psychological abuse against his former partner, who was a teacher.

The 31-year-old, who has played for a number of non-league clubs, had already been going out with another woman for a few months when he was sentenced, who said he became paranoid that she was cheating on him.

Newcastle Crown Court heard on August 12 they had been to a wedding and were getting a taxi home when he became angry at seeing a photograph of her former partner on her phone.

She assured him it was innocent but he continued to get wound up about it and ‘couldn’t let it go’.

When they were back at his home, she felt unable to leave and started shouting ‘help’, prompting him to reassure her.

Damien Stevens was given a suspended prison sentence in July after repeatedly assaulting and using emotional and psychological abuse against his former partner, who was a teacher

Prosecutor Neil Jones said: ‘He began to, rather bizarrely, punch himself in his left cheek and then said ‘you’ve done this and I’m going to tell the police you’ve done this’. She shouted for help and he pushed her and she fell onto some drawers and her lip started to bleed.

Mugshot of Stevens

‘He put one hand on her neck, she said it was not painful. She was screaming she wanted to get out. He said ‘sorry I love you’ and she continued crying.’

The woman had summoned her father, who turned up to help her and Stevens ended up punching him on the nose. The father then put him in a headlock.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said: ‘I know I loved Damien but I also know this is not right. I feel stressed about everything and I don’t need this.’

The court heard she suffered bruising and marks on her arm and neck. Her father  was left with a bloody nose and bruising.

Stevens, of Blyth, Northumberland, who has 15 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault and resisting a police officer. For those offences and for breaching the two year suspended sentence imposed in July, he was jailed for a total of two years.

The 31-year-old, who has played for a number of non-league clubs, had already been going out with another woman for a few months when he was sentenced, who said he became paranoid that she was cheating on him

Recorder Christopher Rose told him: ‘They were unpleasant and nasty assaults on people who were close to you. It’s really deplorable that, yet again, you have been targeting partners in relationships.’

The judge also said it was ‘deplorable’ that Stevens had committed the offences so soon after being given an opportunity in July.

Shaun Routledge, defending, said Stevens has never been to prison before and added: ‘He works full time and had got himself a job and new accommodation and a new relationship.’

He added that his offending became known to various football clubs and he will ‘have to get back to the ground work.’

At the end of the case, Stevens said: ‘All I can do is apologise for my actions and hopefully I can sort myself out in the long run.’

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