South Shields brute smashed his way into ex's home…

South Shields brute smashed his way into ex's home wielding hammer and strangled her

A mum was left terrified when her former partner smashed his way into her home armed with a hammer and strangled her.

Craig Johnston had sent the woman messages saying she would be raped and killed but he had never been violent before and she didn't think he would harm her. But he smashed a glass panel in her door, broke in, cornered her in the kitchen and grabbed and squeezed her throat until she struggled to breathe.

She wriggled free but he then caught up with her again and choked her once more and hit her to the head. Now Johnston, who also caused damage to her car and home, has been given a suspended prison sentence after a court heard he had never been in trouble before and may have been affected by a head injury.

Newcastle Crown Court was told Johnson and the victim had a brief relationship years ago then in June last year they got back together but things turned sour. On January 8 this year, Johnston was with her when she argued with her former partner. Johnston became upset and was "going wild, saying she was now under his protection".

On January 12 she began getting abusive and threatening texts from Johnston, including saying she would be raped. He also said "I will kill you before you can even tell anyone" and "I will cut your f****** toes off.

He also made reference to setting fire to her ex partner's home, not caring if her children were there. Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said: "She was angry but didn't think he would carry out the threats but she found them abusive and unpleasant."

She replied telling him if he touched her house he would be dead and he replied saying "two minutes" and that she would be dead within an hour. "A short time after that she heard her dog barking and heard several bangs on the front door," Mr Pallister said.

"She got halfway downstairs and saw the glass coming in through the middle panel of the front door. She then saw an arm come through and a hand unlock the door. It was the defendant.

"He was screaming and shouting at her. He was wearing a dark hoodie and had a scarf around the lower part of his face but she recognised him.

"She ran to the kitchen, followed by him and she was trapped in a corner. He grabbed her throat with his left hand, squeezing hard enough that she struggled to breathe.

"He had a hammer in his right hand and held it up and used it to smash the kitchen window."

The woman wriggled free and ran outside, shouting for her neighbour to help but Johnston then pushed her before again grabbing her by the throat. She also felt something hit her temple but said it didn't feel like the hammer and thinks it was his hand.

Johnston left and the woman was left feeling dizzy and shocked but not injured. She said in a victim impact statement: "I've always felt safe with him and this is so out of character. His temper seemed to be getting worse but I didn't expect this. I felt terrified on the night."

Johnston, 40, of Erskine Road, South Shields, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation, assault by beating, sending a communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety and criminal damage to her window, door panel and the wing mirror of her car.

He was sentenced to 12 months suspended for two years with 100 hours unpaid work. Recorder Tom Moran said he sentenced him on the basis a head injury he suffered is likely to have contributed to his behaviour in some way.

Gavin Doig, defending, said: "There is a background of health issues causing him to behave in this ferocious and unpleasant manner, which the complainant had not experienced before and was not expecting. He is an intelligent man who understands this is a shocking way to behave."

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