A drunk thug who kicked his wife in the head before accidentally hitting her with a car as he performed a dangerous 360 degree spin has been jailed.

The victim suffered a fractured skull and bleed on the brain during the incident, Burnley Crown Court heard.

David Cuthbertson, of Lynwood Road, Accrington, had been out drinking in May this year with his partner of nine years when they got into an argument driving home on Burnley Road.

When the victim got out of the car the 32-year-old defendant pushed her causing her to fall and bang her head and back on the ground, the court was told.

Cuthbertson then kicked her once to the head. After she got up Cuthbertson got into his car and struck the victim while doing a ‘360 degree spin’ causing her to ‘roll onto the windscreen of the car and onto the bonnet’.

The victim, who had married Cuthbertson in July last year, was taken to hospital and tests found she had a fractured skull and a bleed on her brain.

Cuthbertson pleaded guilty to inflicting GBH and dangerous driving. He was jailed for 28 months and disqualified from driving for three years.

Peter Barr, prosecuting, told the court that their relationship had been ‘violent from the outset’ and ‘particularly when the defendant had a beer’.

The court heard how the couple had been drinking with friends at a pub in Huncoat before the victim and a friend decided to get a taxi into Accrington town centre.

Mr Barr said Cuthbertson ‘didn’t want her to go’ and tried to stop her leaving but failed. When the defendant later caught up with the victim she told him she ‘no longer wished to be with him’ and they decided to go home so she could collect her two dogs.

Mr Barr said the victim knew Cuthbertson had been drinking but got in the car with him.

However, as they were travelling along Burnley Road, Cuthbertson started ‘acting in a really silly and irrational way and driving like an idiot’.

The prosecutor said: “He turned the steering wheel causing the car to move and swerve from side to side and slammed on the brakes. Because of his actions (the victim) said she would get out and walk home.”

The court heard how Cuthbertson then repeatedly tried to block her way and when she kicked and punched his car in ‘frustration’ he got out of the car and attacked her.

When later interviewed by police he denied assaulting her or driving the car deliberately at her.

'Might well have been facing a murder charge'

Judge Simon Newell said if the victim’s injury had been worse Cuthbertson ‘might well have been facing a murder charge’.

Sentencing, he told the defendant: “You must appreciate now that both you and she were desperately lucky.

“You particularly because if that injury had been any more severe you wouldn’t be here facing GBH and dangerous driving, you might well be in the High Court facing a murder charge.

“That’s the reality of what went on that night.

“You escaped that by the skin of your teeth.”

Robert Kearney, defending, said: “He has problems.

“He’s a man who seems to have a temper when he’s had a drink.

“He needs to do something about that.

“They should have been looking forward to a prosperous future together. They are hoping to try and continue the relationship.

“The car accelerated quickly into a 360 degree spin and the point as he’s turning he collided with (the victim).

“It was not a deliberate act but very poor driving.”

Mr Kearney said Cuthbertson was ‘shocked, angry and horrified’ at her injuries’ and said references and letters described him as a ‘kind, honest, decent person’.