A MAN who threatened his wife with an axe before launching a violent attack on her has avoided an immediate prison sentence.

Neil Bell became incensed when his wife came back from a late night walk and drunkenly confronted her about where she had been, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The 45-year-old then hid behind a car in the garage, armed with an axe, before violently grabbing her and pinning her to the wall.

Emma Atkinson, prosecuting, said his wife suffered injuries to her face, neck and a broken collar bone.

Mrs Bell didn't fully co-operate with the police investigation but did tell that she had been attacked and suffered injuries.

Miss Atkinson said: "She confirmed that he threatened her with an axe and said he was going to hit her with it. She said that he had never shown this level of aggression before but she was scared about how it was going to end."

The teenage girlfriend of the couple's son told police how she witnessed some of the violent attack in their home in the Darlington area.

Miss Atkinson said: "Just after midnight the teenager was awoken and heard Mrs Bell shout 'Get off me. You're being silly. I went out for a walk on my own'.

"She described Mrs Bell sound panicked. She could hear scuffling and banging noises coming from the garage then it went quiet, so she thought they had stopped arguing.

"She noticed the security light go back on and then she saw Mrs Bell limping towards the garage, limping and holding her ribs, she describes hearing a loud bang like someone had punched the garage door and heard Mrs Bell scream 'get a grip, I went for a walk on my own'.

"She heard a sound like someone being hit and a sound she described as loud and powerful. She then saw her leaving the garage holding her chest and crying hysterically."

Bell, of Rivington Park, Appleby, Cumbria, pleaded guilt to grievous bodily harm following the incident in November last year.

Ian West, in mitigation, said his client had never been in trouble before and the attack was out of character.

The court heard how Mrs Bell wants to rekindle their relationship.

Judge Timothy Stead sentenced Bell to a two-year community order where he will perform 15 rehabilitation activity days and take part in an alcohol monitoring programme.

He said: "It is a great disappointment to see you hear at this age, it is the only time you have done anything wrong.

"It is a significant wrong – I don't want to be heard saying that domestic violence is in anyway a lesser form of violence than that which could be regarded as general violence against other people, it is the reverse, it is more serious."

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Darlington Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054