By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 12:18, Tuesday, 08 January 2013

A woman hounded her partner with 67 texts and calls during 12 hours and admitted beating him up.

Theresa Rebecca Hetherington, 44, of Hutton Hill, Penrith, sent dozens of texts to Brian Todd on December 13 and struck him over the head with an umbrella.

Hetherington appeared before district judge Gerald Chalk at Carlisle magistrates’ court and the court heard how she bombarded Mr Todd with calls and texts during his 12 hour shift at work.

The pair were due to meet for a drink when he finished work and, when they met in the Last Orders pub in Burrowgate, she had a lot to drink and they started arguing.

She then hit him over the head with her umbrella and he left. Hetherington phoned him and was abusive and, three days later, she assaulted him by scratching and biting him.

The court heard how she was off work due to sickness and was in “a very depressed state.”

“Mr Todd is working long hours and she cannot cope alone at home,” defence lawyer Steven Marsh said.

He said she turned to alcohol and admitted drinking heavily.

The judge was told Mr Todd did not support the prosecution of his partner and Mr Marsh said she was taking steps to put her life back together.

“[They] have been in a relationship for more than two years,” he said. “Mr Todd is sitting in court and is backing her with his support.”

He said Hetherington had been to the alcohol advice service and hoped to enter a detox programme later in the month.

The judge imposed a 12 month community order, with supervision from the probation service, after reading a pre-sentence report on Hetherington, who admitted two assaults between December 13 and 16.

She was told she had to pay court costs of £85 and a £60 victim surcharge. The judge told her he was glad she was addressing her behaviour.

First published at 12:13, Tuesday, 08 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk