Abuser hit ex-partner while she talked to caseworker
A DOMESTIC violence victim’s terrified scream alerted a social worker to the danger she was in when her abuser turned up at her home during a call.
Thomas Taylor had been made subject to a five-year restraining order despite being acquitted of assaulting his former partner.
The mum-of-three cut off contact repeatedly after social services told her to in February but, in March, he contacted her, accusing her of cheating on him.
On March 11 she was on a conference call to social services when he turned up uninvited and let himself into her home.
Clare Anderson, prosecuting at Newcastle Crown Court, said: “She asked him to leave but he continued accusing her of cheating.
“She was screaming for help, hoping others would hear. Fortunately her social worker heard and called the police.”
Taylor, 30, of Ingleborough Drive, Ryton, Gateshead, then took the phone from the woman and ended the call.
Miss Anderson said: “He then hit her in the face with the phone, causing bruising and swelling.
“She then describes him pacing up and down the living room, continuing to accuse her of seeing other people.
“He grabbed her by the throat and threw her onto the sofa and used his knees to restrain her.
“He pulled out a Stanley knife blade and said ‘this is what people are going to get if I find out you have been cheating on me.’”
He then slashed a cushion on the sofa and picked up her laptop and threw it on to the floor and kicked a baby gate.
The victim, from Prudhoe, was able to flee her home and run to her neighbour’s home to seek help.
The woman, who was left with reddening to her face, said in a statement: “I feel betrayed and scared, and scared
for my children’s safety. I don’t want him near me or my kids ever again.
“He really scared me when he pinned me down on the sofa and pulled out a knife and slashed my sofa and made threats to anyone he thought I had been with.”
Taylor, who has seven previous convictions, pleaded guilty to breaching a restraining order, common assault and criminal damage.
Recorder Mark Giuliani said he would spare him the immediate custodial sentence the offending merited out of mercy as he is the carer for his terminally ill mother.
Taylor, who has been remanded in custody, was sentenced to 16 months suspended for two years with a sixmonth curfew between 6pm and 6am and 150 hours unpaid work.
Kate Barnes, defending, said: “He has come to the realisation he has undiagnosed mental health issues.
“He is ordinarily involved in the care for his mother, who has terminal cancer.
“He wants to reconcile with this lady and her children but he will have to behave impeccably if social services will allow that.”
The court heard the woman has made application to have the restraining order discharged.