A dance teacher who assaulted his boyfriend while on a suspended sentence for GBH has been given another chance to keep his freedom.
Liam Raydon left a hotel security guard with a fractured knee during a struggle on Newcastle Quayside. But just months later he turned violent again, pushing and slapping his partner.
The pair had been in a relationship for around two years at the time of the assault in July this year. Newcastle Crown Court heard Raydon had lost his job and started drinking more after getting a suspended sentence in January for causing GBH.
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The couple had been out drinking in Newcastle city centre with Raydon's friend, who had been annoying and upsetting the victim, who thought his boyfriend had done nothing about it.
He therefore decided to go back to Raydon's home and was lying in his bed when the other two came home. An argument blew up and the victim was asked to leave, which he did.
Rachel Glover, prosecuting, said Raydon followed him and pushed the victim, causing him to fall into a wall. He continued to pursue and shout at his partner as he went to get a taxi.
Miss Glover said: "There came a point where the defendant realised the complainant was recording on his phone and he asked him many times to delete the videos. The complainant was trying to walk away and was followed by the defendant, who grabbed his arm and pulled him against a wall.
"The defendant started chasing him down the road before grabbing him again and hitting him to the side of the face." Raydon pleaded guilty on the basis it was a slap rather than a punch, which prosecutors do not accept but did not seeking a formal hearing to determine that issue.
In a victim impact statement, the man said: "I usually attend Newcastle city centre to socialise. As Liam regularly attends the same places, I'm fearful to go out in case he is there and assaults me again." The court heard the victim later said said he didn't want to proceed with the prosecution and retracted his claims of being in fear.
When interviewed by police, Raydon said there had been an argument about his friend staying over. He admitted pushing him five or six times and said he hit him with an open palm.
Raydon, 27, of Partmontley Street, Scotswood, Newcastle, was sentenced to six months suspended for 18 months on January 10 this year for GBH and common assault. He admitted assault by beating for the latest offence, which put him in breach of the suspended sentence and has now had the operational period of the suspended sentence extended to last two years and was given 120 hour unpaid work, a community order and must pay £250 compensation.
The court was given positive references about Raydon from people who know him, including one who said he was a "loving, gentle kind-hearted man". Susannah Proctor, defending, said he is "deeply ashamed of his behaviour".
She added: "He is utterly terrified of the prospect of being sent to custody. It was a volatile, toxic relationship has now come to an end."
The court heard he was a carer looking after children with autism and lost that job after his last conviction. He was also running a dance school which he set up.
Miss Proctor said his mental health deteriorated after the last conviction but he now has two jobs, working as a hotel receptionist and in a bar.
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