A thug who sneaked into his ex-girlfriend's bedroom before arming himself with a knife and threatening to kill her has been jailed.
Jack Hope had sneaked into the woman's home uninvited and went to her room, where she suddenly noticed him standing by her bed. A court heard she followed the 27-year-old through to the lounge, where he slapped her across the face and called her a "s**t".
But the terrifying incident escalated further when Hope went to the kitchen and armed himself with a knife before returning and telling the victim "I'm going to kill you, you f*****g s**t", prosecutors said. The woman fled back to her bedroom while Hope continue to make threats and stab an internal door, Newcastle Crown Court was told.
Hope, of Linden Avenue, in Fenham, Newcastle, was finally arrested after the petrified victim phoned the police and reported what had happened. He later pleaded guilty on the day of his trial to affray, witness intimidation and two counts criminal damage.
Samuel Sharp, prosecuting, said Hope and the victim had been in a relationship for seven months before splitting up on May 28 last year. Over the coming days, Hope sent her messages or called her asking her to either go to the gym with him or to pick him up, which she declined.
However, on June 3, the woman and her friend had been on a night out and were back at the former's home with two men when they all went to bed in two separate rooms. Mr Sharp continued: "[The victim] was in bed watching a film at 2am when she noticed the defendant standing next to her bed.
"She followed him to the living room, where he slapped her across the cheek and caused reddening. The defendant entered the kitchen and returned with a knife and said "I'm going to kill you, you f*****g s**t". She fled to her bedroom before calling the police."
The court heard that Hope followed her with the knife and stabbed a door while shouting "You're a s**g". Following the terrifying incident, which lasted around 10 minutes, the victim noticed that her mother's car windscreen had been damaged by Hope.
Mr Sharp said that, the following day, Hope sent the victim a number of "unpleasant messages" about the incident before asking her to retract her statement. When she refused, Hope said he would hand himself in.
In a statement, the victim said: "I'm terrified. I didn't even want to be in my own home anymore. I'm scarred emotionally as a result of the toxic relationship. I thought he was going to kill me."
Mr Sharp said Hope, who has a past conviction for raping a young boy, had committed the offence at night, in the victim's home and in a domestic context. Mr Sharp added: "He made threats to kill while in possession of a knife while chasing the complainant."
David Callan, defending, said Hope suffered from mental health problems, which had deteriorated since being on remand, but wanted help from the Probation Service. He added: "He also needs help establishing and maintaining relationships.
"At the time, he had been drinking too much for three days before this and had taken recreational drugs." Hope was jailed for two years and made subject of a restraining order for three years.
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