A mum thought she was going to die when she was put in a chokehold by her abusive partner after dumping him for cheating.
The victim was held by the neck for 10 to 15 seconds by well-built brute Thomas White, who also went on to punch her, stalk her and drove "like a madman" chasing her as she tried to go to a doctors appointment. Now White, who is thought to be one now become one of the first people in the country to be prosecuted for the new offence of "intentional strangulation", has been jailed.
Newcastle Crown Court heard they had been in a relationship for around a year and a half and she said he had been aggressive during it. She ended it on June 8 last year when she found out he had been unfaithful, the court heard.
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She left his address and went home around midnight and half an hour later, he turned up and barged his way in, knocking her up against a wall. He then pushed her with both hands against the living room wall, causing her to bang her head.
Michael Bunch, prosecuting, said: "She was absolutely terrified. He dragged her onto the floor and placed her in a chokehold. He is a big, well-built man.
"She scratched at his arms and face to get him to release his grip." White held his grip on her throat for 10 to 15 seconds before her efforts to fight him off caused him to let go.
Following that, he started to cry and she repeated the relationship was over and he would have to let her go but he replied that he would never let her go. He left but then returned the following morning. She heard a knock at the door around 10.45 and saw him there and he then let himself in the back door. She left through the front door and headed for a GP appointment.
Mr Bunch said: "He followed her and she said he was driving like a madman, trying to box her in to get her to stop. She was terrified, thinking he would run her off the road."
She made it to the surgery but noticed him parking up outside to wait for her. After the appointment he shouted abuse at her then managed to get in her car, begging her not to seek a restraining order, saying he would lose his job and son.
He then punched an airbag in the car and she tried to run off but he grabbed her, ripping her denim jacket. Having got back in her car and got home, he turned up again at 1pm, claiming he was having a panic attack but she thought he was just faking it to get access to her home.
He then became angry, calling her names before eventually leaving. However he returned at 2pm with a handful of tablets, swallowing them in front of her, so she contacted his mother.
A few hours later, having been out, she returned to find him lying on the ground, drunk, in her garden. She let him in, due to embarrassment at his state and tried to be nice to him due to her fear.
But he became aggressive, prompting her to try to get away but he grabbed her jacket and dragged her back into the house. Mr Bunch said: "He began punching her, there were ten punches in the head.
"She was scared for her life and kicked out at him, which enabled her to get out and run into the street. He caught up with her, ripping her vest top completely off. She was totally exposed on her upper half and very embarrassed in the street and felt scared for her life.
"She tried to run home but he dragged her to the ground and started smashing her head off the pavement. She thought he was trying to kill her."
White also smashed her phone on the pavement and when other people came out, she was able to run and hide and police were called. Officers had to taser him to bring him under control.
In a victim impact statement, she said the offending had a wide range of consequences for her. She has ended up on medication for anxiety, depression and sleeping problems and is having counselling. She was unable to work and suffering nightmares about White when she was able to sleep and it has also impacted on her son.
Mr Bunch said she also had to "seek treatment for her own personal sexual health because of how the relationship came to an end because of the problems his behaviour caused to her". In terms of physical injuries she had bruising to various areas.
White, 33, of Burney Villas, Deckham, Gateshead, who has eight previous convictions, pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation, stalking involving fear of violence, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage. He was jailed for two-and-a-half years and given an indefinite restraining order.
Shaun Routledge, defending, said: "He has behaved completely out of character. He appears to have had something of a breakdown.
"He had something of a meltdown and he has lost everything. He is capable of turning his life around and he bitterly regrets his behaviour.
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