Brute turned up at home of ex-partner and attacked her
A BRUTE strangled his ex-girlfriend – lifting her off the ground by the throat in a terrifying attack.
Dale Thompson subjected his former partner to the assault on December 22, after attending her Hartlepool home – something he was banned from doing.
Teesside Crown Court heard the defendant had been in a relationship with the woman for around six years but this broke down in March last year.
The 28-year-old was made subject of a “non-molestation order” – banning contact with the victim, but he repeatedly flouted this.
Prosecutor Paul Abrahams told the court that at around 8pm the woman was at home with her niece when the defendant turned up on her doorstep.
He said it was only when she answered the door that she realised it was the defendant and an argument broke out.
Mr Abrahams said: “The defendant was prohibited from attending her address – something she told him – but he ignored this and instead grabbed her by the throat by both hands, squeezed her neck and lifted her from the floor causing her to have difficulties breathing.”
The court heard not long after her niece screamed, causing the defendant to release the woman and flee. However, just six days later, at around 9.30pm, he returned. Mr Abrahams said the woman was walking home with her sister-in-law when she saw the defendant standing outside her home.
He said she managed to sneak inside but he then began to shout for her to open the door which she refused.
“He began to kick the front door causing it to come off its hinges – the defendant then entered the property but was pushed back out by the complainant”, Mr Abrahams said.
Shortly after the police arrived and he was arrested. The defendant was interviewed but answered no comment to all questions put to him.
He later pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation, criminal damage and two breaches of a nonmolestation order.
The court heard the defendant has 10 convictions for 14 offences which include domestic matters and breaching a restraining order.
Sentencing Thompson the judge, Recorder Anthony Dunne, said: “Your record for offences against previous partners speaks for itself.
“It seems you have no respect for their wishes and you resort to using violence or threats whenever they do not comply with whatever you want at the time. You have no respect for court orders which you have repeatedly breached.”
The defendant, of Bodmin Grove, in the Throston area of town, was sentenced to three years and six months in prison and banned from contacting the victim.