A convicted arsonist who threatened to burn a mum's house down with her children children inside after attacking her has been jailed.
Jonathan Dunn flew into a rage because his friend of 16 years wanted no more than a casual relationship with him as she had just come out of a long-term relationship.
A court heard he lost his temper, grabbed her by the throat, dragged her into the kitchen, threw a glass at her, which missed, picked up knives and threatened to kill her.
Read more: Go here for the latest reports and live updates from North East courts
He also bombarded her with 130 calls and told her: "I'm going to cut you to bits, I swear on my daughter's life I'm going to hack you to bits," adding "I'm going to cut the face off you".
Two days later, Dunn sent a threatening message to a male friend of the victim, who she was with and left him a voicemail saying he would "burn down her home with the kids inside".
As Dunn, 30, of Springwell Road, Wrekenton, Gateshead, was jailed at Newcastle Crown Court, the woman said in a victim impact statement: "His actions left me in fear for my kids' and my safety.
"His actions are possessive, alarming and unpredictable and I know he could harm me.
"I don't feel safe at home with my daughter and this has made me upset and cry about the incident."
Her friend added: "I'm worried he will turn up at my house and damage my property. He has carried out his threats before so I'm scared he will do it again."
Dunn, who has 17 previous conviction, including for arson in 2016, dishonesty and threatening behaviour, admitted two counts of threats to kill, assault by beating and sending a threatening communication.
Jailing him for three years, Recorder Nathan Adams said: "Your conviction for arson makes your threat to burn her house down with her children inside all the more serious."
Jamie Adams, defending, said: "Anyone could be forgiven, in light of this disgraceful and frightening behaviour that he is a thug and a brute and has got no remorse but he is now expressing himself to be remorseful and is actually a very caring man who has been helping a man who became disabled after he had a serious stroke.
"At the time of these offences he was binge drinking and taking cocaine - it had become a crippling habit for him.
"He has been in custody for nearly six months and it has completely detoxified him and he feels a completely different person."
For daily news from the North East's courts direct to your inbox, go here to sign up to our free court newsletter
