Health worker punched his partner repeatedly

64-YEAR-OLD LOCKED UP FOR DRUNKEN ATTACK

- By ROB KENNEDY Court reporter

AN NHS worker who acted like a “bully” while repeatedly punching his partner in a drunken attack has been jailed.

For 25 years, Peter Nicholson dedicated his working life to helping those with learning difficulties and autism but now he has thrown away his career and good name.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Nicholson, 64, had been in a relationship with the victim for around two years and they had lived together for around six months.

She said the relationship had been “mostly fine” and while he had been verbally aggressive before, he had never been physically abusive.

On January 2, they had been drinking in Ashington from around 3pm and returned home at 11pm and began arguing.

Helen Towers, prosecuting, said: “The defendant, in what may have been an attempt to upset her, said he was still in love with his ex-partner and still in contact with her.