A WINSFORD man who ‘brutally’ dragged, kicked, and punched his half-naked ex-girlfriend in the street as she tried to flee their home has been jailed.

Lewis Atherton, of Severn Walk, tried to stop the woman leaving in the early hours of September 1, 2023, during a violent argument when he accused her of having an affair.  

It got so heated she stabbed the 30-year-old in the arm, for which he needed stitches, before she ran outside.

Two different neighbours then witnessed the attack after hearing screaming in the street as the victim begged someone to call the police. 

One neighbour came outside, but Atherton told him 'f*** off and get inside your house or I’ll smash your windows, then smash her f*****g face in'.

His victim tried to flag down a passing driver for help, but Atherton chased him off with threats, then dragged her back towards the house and smashed her face into the front door.

Another neighbour who witnessed the assault and described the scene as 'brutal', added she was naked from the waist down as she crawled back through the front door. 

Atherton was heard calling her a s**g and seemed to be kicking her as she crawled, the neighbour told police.

He was arrested later that morning at a nearby petrol station, where officers noted he was drunk.

He denied assaulting her, but changed his plea to guilty on Tuesday, February 13, at the first day of his trial at Chester Crown Court. 

At the trial, he also faced eight other charges including more assaults, intentional strangulation, criminal damage, and theft, all relating to the same woman, though they were ordered to lie on file when the victim didn't show up to give evidence.  

Atherton returned to Chester Crown Court on Tuesday, April 2, to be sentenced for a single count of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Defending, Phillip Tully described the couple’s relationship as ‘toxic’, adding Atherton 'had been subjected to serious violence that evening’.

“While the most serious injuries his victim received were bruises, my client was stabbed in the arm," he added. 

Mr Tully went on to describe Atherton as 'a man of good education and work record, and a father of two with a supportive and caring family’.

Passing sentence, Judge Patrick Thompson said: “You pleaded guilty at the last minute to a very serious assault on a woman.   

“This was a disgraceful attack which took place in public, causing people looking on to fear for your victim’s safety.

“I accept you suffered an injury yourself, but this was not a fair match, and you know it.

“I believe appropriate punishment can only be achieved by the imposition of an immediate custodial sentence.”

Judge Thompson handed Atherton 14 months in prison.

He must also pay a £189 surcharge and complete a building better relationships programme when he’s released on licence.