WOMAN ‘TERRORISED IN OWN HOME’
Spurned boyfriend headbutted ex in middle of the night
A SPURNED boyfriend broke into his ex-partner’s home and subjected her to a terrifying attack in the middle of the night.
During the incident, Harry Price grabbed his victim round the neck, headbutted her and punched her several times.
Stoke-on-trent Crown Court heard that he turned violent after she went into the bathroom, locked the door and tried to summon help through a small window.
It was one of several desperate attempts to get away from him before she finally managed to escape and alert a passing dog walker.
Now 32-year-old Price, of Lyndhurst Street, Burslem, has admitted charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage.
Peter Mccartney, prosecuting, said the estranged couple had begun a relationship in 2017 and had a child together.
But, fuelled by drugs and alcohol, Price was ‘becoming abusive’ towards her.
“She decided to end the relationship. He didn’t take it very well,” added Mr Mccartney.
“Since then he was turning up at her home and calling her at stupid times of the day.”
At 1am on September 29, his expartner was asleep at home. She was awoken by a noise downstairs.
It was Price and he was repeatedly saying, ‘is he here, is he here.’ He then appeared in the bedroom ‘in dramatic fashion’ and was verbally abusive.
Price started checking other rooms, including the loft, as if searching for somebody.
His ex-partner went to the bathroom and tried to call for help through the window. But Price heard her and forced the bathroom door open.
Mr Mccartney said: “He grabbed her round the neck with both hands and headbutted her.
“He dragged her out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. He punched her two or three times.”
When Price eventually left the room, his victim spied her second chance to get help.
She had hidden her mobile phone under the mattress and reached for it.
But her violent ex-boyfriend appeared again and she ended the 999 call.
It was 7.30am by the time she managed to escape and approach the passer-by, who rang the police.
The woman would later tell police: “I feel terrorised in my own home. I do not feel safe anymore.”
The court was told Price appeared to be under the influence of drugs when the incident happened.
Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said: “In a sober light, he recognises the horrible person he was being. He is adamant that he is not going to come before the courts again.”
Price had turned to drink and drugs after losing a close relative.
His six weeks in custody on remand acted as a wake-up call. He has now withdrawn from drugs.
“He aims to remain sober, get back into work and be a good father,” said Mr Muldoon.
The court heard his ex-partner has since got back in touch with him, and had also written to the judge to say he needed help.
Price has now received a 14-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.
It includes a requirement to complete a ‘building better relationships’ programme, 20 rehabilitation activity days and 100 hours of unpaid work.