The Gazette

Drug-fuelled thug’s attack on partner

- By GEORGIA BANKS georgia.banks@reachplc.com @JournoGeor­giaB

A DANGEROUS thug strangled his lover after she tried to escape following a drugfuelle­d argument.

Repeat offender Terrence Fox was banned from seeing his partner after incidents of violence against her before the attack in January. Appearing at Teesside Crown Court on Wednesday it was claimed the pair had only rekindled their romance a few days prior.

Summarisin­g the case, Judge Christophe­r Smith said after only a few days together in January, Fox, of St Johns Close, North Ormesby, Middlesbro­ugh, had taken drink and drugs and the pair fell into an argument. He said giving evidence in the trial that the woman knew she was in danger and set about packing to escape.

Judge Smith said: “She was knelt down packing when you stormed into the bedroom and struck her. She was in a vulnerable position and she is a vulnerable person. She appears to have lost consciousn­ess and found herself in the middle of the bedroom with you on top of her strangling her, kneeling across her chest.”

Prosecutor Shaun Dryden said she was left with two fractures to her jaw requiring surgery and permanent medical plates.

He told the court it was a high culpabilit­y attack and she was vulnerable at the time.

In mitigation, Gary Wood said the Teessider expressed ‘remorse and regret’ and whilst on remand in Durham Prison he has secured a job and has spent the majority of time in his cell due to a Covid outbreak.

Sentencing Fox, Judge Smith said: “You caused her really serious harm and that was your intention. You have a bad record for violence some of it involving this victim. She rekindled the relationsh­ip and you ignored the court order telling you you needed to stay away from her.”

Fox, 35, was sentenced for breaching a restrainin­g order and causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He pleaded guilty to breaching the order but was convicted after a trial of the attack.

He was handed an extended sentence of seven years. He was also given a restrainin­g order banning contact from the victim.

VICTIM LEFT WITH TWO JAW FRACTURES AFTER TRYING TO ESCAPE

 ?? ?? Terrence Fox launched a vicious assault
Terrence Fox launched a vicious assault

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