Intensive care: Kathryn Cook

A MAN has appeared in court charged with an assault on his former partner.

Paul Northey, 39, of Stanley, appeared before magistrates on Thursday last week charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Mr Northey was arrested at his home in Wylam Road, Shield Row, near Stanley, last Wednesday.

His former partner, Kathryn Cook, was found with severe head injuries at her home in Penshaw Gardens, Stanley. She remained critically ill in intensive care.

Ms Cook was found by her tenyear- old daughter, Rebecca, when she arrived home from school.

Neighbours raised the alarm and Ms Cook was taken to hospital in Durham City, then transferred to Newcastle General Hospital.

Rebecca, 11 this week, is being cared for by her father David Morgan, and both sets of grandparents.

Ms Cook's parents, Philip and Kathleen Cook, who also live in Penshaw Gardens near their daughter, pleaded with potential witnesses to come forward with any information no matter how trivial they thought it might be.

Mr Cook, a retired Derwentside council worker, 69, said: "Kathryn is a caring friendly woman totally devoted to her daughter.

"They are very, very close and are used to going everywhere together. She would harm nobody, has no enemies and gets on well with all her neighbours."

Ms Cook, who had worked as a machinist on the Team Valley Industrial Estate, had more lately been working part-time with her mother at Beamish Park Hotel.

She, Rebecca, parents and other members of the family returned from holiday in Spain just three days before she was found unconscious in her bedroom.

Mr Northey was remanded in custody until July 9 to appear before Durham Crown Court.

Police are appealing for witnesses to call them on 0845-60-60-365 or anonymously via the Crimestoppers hotline on 0800-555111.

11:12am Friday 4th July 2008

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