A driver grabbed a woman in a bear hug and forced her back into his home as she didn't have "permission" to leave.
Brian Campbell chased after the female when she tried to leave his home in a taxi. The 36-year-old grabbed her by the hair and neck and dragged her into the property.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how he told the "petrified" woman that he could not leave without his permission. She contacted the police and locked herself in a bedroom until they arrived.
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The court in Newcastle heard how the pair had been in a relationship for two to three months and had been drinking together on the evening of March 9 last year.
Daniel Ingham, prosecuting, said the woman had woken up on the sofa and was shouted at by Campbell for using her phone. As a result, she asked her ex-boyfriend to call her a taxi.
He told the court how Campbell approached the taxi as she was trying to get into it, grabbed her hair and neck and dragged her in the form of a "bear hug".
The prosecutor said: "The defendant told her she was not leaving the property without permission. She locked herself in the bedroom until the police arrived. At the time, the defendant admitted pulling the complainant by the arm out of the taxi and common assault."
Campbell, of Arnold Street, Boldon Colliery, pleaded guilty to common assault and affray.
The court heard how he has a previous conviction for battery from 2019, which was domestic violence related, and he received a six-month conditional discharge.
Rachel Hedworth, defending, told the court: "What he describes is at odds with what the complainant said. He's man handled her out of the taxi into a bear hug and into the address.
"He is entirely remorseful for his behaviour. He's clearly struggled on and off with alcohol problems. He has a number of mental health problems which stretch back to childhood, a very difficult childhood. He's used alcohol, probably wrongly, as a coping mechanism."
Ms Hedworth said the relationship was relatively short lived and they've had no contact since. She said he is now working full-time as a driver for a large, well-known building company in Gateshead.
She added: "He recognises that his behaviour is unacceptable. He needs help with recognising his emotions."
The court heard how Campbell had already served 197 days on an electrically monitored curfew.
Recorder Angharad Davies told Campbell: "When the taxi arrived she tried to get into it. You grabbed her hair and her neck. You grabbed her back into your house and you locked the door, telling her 'You're not going out without my permission'.
"She was able to contact the police and stayed for 20 minutes while the police arrived, while she was locked in the bedroom. She tells the court she couldn't leave the house and she's petrified of you.
"(The victim) was petrified of you and what you might do to her. You took her and dragged her back into the house. In my judgement, this caused fear and distress.
"You understand that your behaviour was unacceptable and you need some help."
Recorder Davies sentenced Campbell to a 12 month community order with 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He must also abide by an alcohol monitoring programme for 60 days.
She told him: "We do not want to see you back here again."
