A drunken “monster” held a meat cleaver to his former partner’s neck and threatened to kill her.
Rodney Akomas had earlier demanded the frightened woman kneel before him to apologise and after repeatedly slapping her, told her “I’ll kill you. I’m a dangerous man. I want you to respect me, I want you to be submissive.”
Her terrifying ordeal was brought to an end when she managed to scream which alerted neighbours who ran to her rescue. They kicked the door in and found the 54-year-old holding her aggressively over the sink with the knife above her.
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Liverpool Crown Court heard Akomas and his 20-year-old victim had ended their four month relationship but at the time of the terrifying incident she was temporarily staying with him as she was homeless. Joanne Moore, prosecuting, said on February 23 this year he was working from home and, as had happened before, he became argumentative and she told him she could not live with the way he was treating her.
Ms Moore said: “He began shouting in her face and she tried to leave but he grabbed hold of both her arms and stopped her. He was telling her she was useless and brought nothing to the table. He told her he was in control and in charge and she should go down on her knees and apologise to him.”
When she refused he slapped her again. She told him she did not love him any more and to let her go but arrogant Akomas again slapped her across the face. Ms Moore added: “He then grabbed a meat cleaver with a five inch blade and held it to her neck touching her skin and moved it back and forth across her neck.”
Akomas issued the threats to kill her and demanded she was submissive and the frightened victim believed his chilling words. When he would not let go she began screaming and the couple living in the flat upstairs heard her calls for help and came down to her aid.
Ms Moore said: “The police arrived and the victim was visibly distressed but was reluctant to provide a statement and appeared terrified." Jailing him the judge, Recorder Ian Unsworth, QC, who made an indefinite restraining order, said that without any provocation he subjected her to “gratuitous and demeaning abuse.”
He said: “You had drunk a large amount of alcohol which turned you into a monster. Your use of alcohol is clearly an aggravating factor,” said Recorder Unsworth. He said that although the victim has no permanent physical injuries “there can be no doubt that the psychological trauma from this terrifying attack will run deep.”
The judge said there was no evidence of remorse when the defendant was interviewed by police and he lied, saying he was not violent and the incident had not happened. The court heard that he had threatened his victim that he would kill her if she made a statement to the police leaving her petrified.
The judge added: “You no doubt hoped that your victim would not have the courage to make a statement. You were wrong. Your cowardice contrasted with her bravery.” Cheryl Mottram, defending, said that Akomas, who has 11 previous convictions, now accepted his behaviour was unacceptable and has made a conscious decision to try and better himself.
He acknowledges now that it had been terrifying for the victim and he described himself as having turned into “a monster” after drinking a large amount of alcohol. Miss Mottram said that when not in drink he is well mannered and polite and has been offered employment.
Akomas, of Sheil Road, Fairfield, was jailed for three and a half years after admitting threats to kill and common assault.
