A man carried out a terrifying attack on his ex-partner and strangled her in her own home before going on to headbutt a policeman in hospital.
Louis Wells turned up to his ex-partner's home uninvited in the early hours of March 28 and subjected her to a violent attack that saw him punch her numerous times and strangle her. The 33-year-old went to the home accompanied by another person who was wearing a balaclava and stood and watched as the attack was carried out.
Soon after, police changed the locks on the woman's home, but Wells returned hours later and kicked in the door and began crying at the foot of the victim's bed - leaving her petrified. Following his arrest, Wells was taken to Sunderland Royal Infirmary over medical issues, where he was abusive to a nurse and then headbutted a police officer who tried to intervene.
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Wells, of no fixed address, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Tuesday, via link from HMP Durham, to be sentenced for criminal damage, assaulting an emergency worker, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He pleaded guilty to the charges at a previous hearing.
Matthew Hopkins, prosecuting, said Wells had been in a long-term relationship with the woman, which had ended two years previously, and was "not welcome" at her Peterlee home where she lived with their three young children. But at 1am, Wells called her asking if she was at home. Mr Hopkins said: "After the phone call he turned up to her home and entered using a key. A second person was with him wearing a balaclava. The defendant walked up to her and strangled her with both hands.
"He stopped, then started to punch her, the complainant can't remember how many times. He then pinned her down and strangled her again. She believed he was going to kill her. After that, the defendant threw her around the room and strangled her more. He accused her of being with other men and threatened to kill her."
Mr Hopkins said that the victim's children were at the home during the attack and two of them awoke and came downstairs where they witnessed what happened. He said: "He continued to strangle and punch her in view of the crying children."
The court heard the attack lasted around five minutes before the person in the balaclava persuaded Wells to leave - he then hit the woman in the face once more before finally leaving. The police were then called and soon arrived to change the locks on the home, but around five hours later, Wells returned and kicked in the door. The woman found him sitting at the foot of the bed "crying" and telling her he loved her before asking for a "cuddle".
Terrified, the woman ran away and called the police a second time. Wells was later arrested but was taken to hospital due to "medical issues", but he became aggressive towards a nurse while there. Mr Hopkins said a police officer then stood in between Wells and the nurse, before Wells headbutted him in the face.
In a victim statement, the woman said she was terrified that she might be killed at the time and said she would never forgive him for launching an attack in front of their children.
Jennifer Coxon, defending, said Wells, who had 27 previous convictions for 59 offences, was "struggling with his mental health at that time". She said the breakdown in the relationship and the fact Wells had recently lost his job added to his mental health problems but had taken the "silly decision" to stop taking his medication.
She said: "He sought emergency help days prior to this but unfortunately found himself not being offered the help he was crying out for." Ms Coxon added: "He is extremely disappointed and devastated ... children will have a lasting memory [of the attack] and is deeply remorseful for that."
Sentencing Wells, Judge Ray Singh said the woman must have been "absolutely terrified" and said it was "clearly pre-planned to carry out an assault on her". Wells was jailed for 20 months and a 10 year restraining order was imposed.
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