Gateshead thug left ex partner fearing he would kill her after strangling her until she blacked out

A thug left his former partner fearing he would kill her after strangling her until she passed out.

The victim had been in a relationship with Sam Taylor for around four years but they split up in June 2023 when she was pregnant with her third child. Neil Jones, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court the woman said Taylor had been jealous and controlling during the relationship and said he had been violent after she suffered a miscarriage.

A few days before Christmas 2023, Taylor attended her home to drop Christmas presents off for the children and she let him in. They had a drink and he put together a motorbike for one of the of the youngsters.

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As they discussed matters, he nipped her with plyers he had been using to put the bike together, causing pain. Mr Jones said: "He pushed her in the corner of the living room and headbutted her repeatedly.

"She tried to run upstairs and he stamped on her and threatened to bite her face. He then stood over her on the bed and punched her to various parts of the body."

There was then a second attack in March this year. The woman went out to a social club in Newcastle and left around midnight. She couldn't remember how she ended up in the company of Taylor but found herself outside her home with him and couldn't find her house keys.

He shouted at her for "being stupid" and he used her phone to call a locksmith and try to arrange somewhere to go. He turned violent after saying a man had called her mobile phone.

He pulled her by the hair and dragged her around, causing her to scream out in pain. The court heard he then headbutted her then swept her feet away, sending her to the ground before going on to strangle her with both hands until she lost consciousness.

Mr Jones said she lost control of her bladder and bowels as a result of the attack, for which Taylor abused her further. She then blacked out again for what she thought was several hours

She later found three large chunks of hair on the ground outside and was left with a bald patch, as well as bruising, swelling and pain and damage to a tooth. The court heard she had also suffered serious psychological damage.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said: "The assault has left me feeling extremely scared and vulnerable. I feel this is going to affect me forever.

"I really thought he was going to kill me that night. It was such an unprovoked attack."

Taylor, 24, of West Street, Whickham, Gateshead, who has four previous convictions - for affray, possessing a bladed article and possessing offensive weapons - pleaded guilty to strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.

Recorder Nathan Moxon told him: "This was a disgraceful way to treat anyone, particularly in a domestic setting." The judge said the fact Taylor has been remanded in custody for seven months meant he could suspend his sentence.

He was given 20 months suspended for two years. He must do a "building better relationships programme", be subject to an alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement for 120 days and was given a restraining order.

Penny Hall, defending, said: "There were no serious physical injuries caused but I accept there was psychological harm."