A violent thug who robbed a brave shopkeeper while armed with a knife then beat up his girlfriend has been jailed.
Jordan Dixon went into a small family store in South Shields brandishing a blade and left the owner injured when he courageously tried to "fight for his life". He stole a bag containing more than £2,000 and other items before fleeing, leaving the victim injured.
Newcastle Crown Court heard Dixon went on to subject his partner to shocking violence after she decided to end their relationship. Now the 28-year-old has been jailed for robbery and GBH.
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The court heard it was just before 9am on March 17 2019 when Dixon went into Smilers newsagents, in South Shields with a knife. As the victim struggled with him, he felt something prod his stomach and thought he was going to be stabbed and the knife then caught his hand.
Dixon, who demanded money, then grabbed a bag containing around £2,000 cash and other items and ran from the store. The knife, which had cut the shopkeeper's finger, was later found with DNA from both of them on it.
The victim said in a statement read to the court: "I work to earn money and this man, who may be someone I've served, thought it was ok to put my life in danger to steal from my family. I had to close the shop which lost us business and let our customers down."
On February 15 this year, Dixon's partner decided to end their relationship and he responded by attacking her. He punched her in the face and his parents intervened and they went to a bar to discuss matters.
They ended up back at his parents' home, where he attacked her again, pinning her to the ground and punching her. She was able to climb over a fence and run off but he chased her and continued the attack.
The court heard he punched her to the face and threatened to kill her, which she begged him not to do as she has a young child. Due to her injuries, her recollection is then vague but he was seen kicking or stamping on her head.
A witness saw Dixon holding up a "floppy" woman, who was bleeding around the nose and had swollen eyes and was drifting in and out of consciousness.
The woman was left with a fracture to her skull near her jaw and had bleeding from her ear. She said in a victim impact statement that she has been left "anxious and nervous" as a result of the attack. She added: "I truly loved him with all my heart and I honestly believed he felt the same way.
"You should not do anything like this to someone you care about. I feel I can't trust anyone and that's an awful position to be in."
Dixon, 28, of Thornhope Close, Barmston, Washington, pleaded guilty to robbery and GBH and was jailed for a total of five years and eight months. He was also given a ten years restraining order not to contact his ex.
Gavin Doig, defending, said: "He is utterly determined not to have anything more to do with his former partner and have nothing more to do with robbery and drugs." Mr Doig added that the woman had still been contacting him while he was in prison.
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