Passers-by stopped camper attacking partner
Northumbria PoliceA man whose violent attack on his partner at their woodland campsite was stopped by two passers-by, who said they feared he was killing her, has been jailed for nearly four years.
Two men walking in Gateshead's Watergate Forest Park heard a woman screaming for help and ran to find Andreas Michael, 50, pinning his partner to the ground and "raining" punches down on her face, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Police had intervened the previous day when the couple were arguing about getting lost, the court heard.
Michael, who had 65 offences on his criminal record, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and breaching a suspended prison sentence which was imposed in Birmingham for burglary.
Michael and his partner, who refused to support the prosecution, were seen by police arguing about getting lost on 23 July 2025, prosecutor Glenn Gatland said.
Officers allowed them to go on their way, but at about 18:00 BST the following day, two men walking in the park heard the woman screaming, the court heard.
They ran into a secluded area of woodland where they saw Michael on top of the woman and "raining" punches on her head and face, the prosecutor said.
The men "genuinely" believed Michael would not stop the attack and the woman's life was in danger, Gatland said, so knocked him to the ground and told her to flee for her safety.
Police arrived to find the couple's campsite in disarray and camping equipment strewn across the area, the court heard.
The woman was suspected to have a fractured eye socket and jaw but prosecutors were unable to confirm her injuries due to her lack of cooperation, the court heard.
In mitigation, Jane Foley said the "grave" attack occurred following "heightened emotions", dehydration, substance misuse issues and "poor preparation while wild camping".
Michael, of Stainton Drive in Felling, was jailed for 21 months for the attack and a further two years for breaching the suspended sentence imposed by Birmingham Crown Court in 2023.
