Gosforth mum left unconscious with bleeding on brain by massage therapist she met on blind date

Jay Madine, who admitted GBH on a woman in Gosforth
-Credit: (Image: Northumbria Police)


A mum was left unconscious with bleeding on the brain when her "amazing" relationship with a man she met on a blind date ended in horror.

Despite a "considerable age gap" between her and 26-year-old massage therapist Jay Madine, the woman said they had a lot in common and, to begin with, they had a good relationship, during which she would treat him to holidays abroad, clothes and jewellery and invested in his business.

However his jealous streak soon came to the fore and he didn't like her seeing her son and ex husband, Newcastle Crown Court heard. This culminated in a horrific street attack in Gosforth, Newcastle, last December, in which he hit her with her laptop bag before throwing her forcefully into a wall, leaving her with serious head injuries which have left her with long-term physical and emotional damage.

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Shada Mellor, prosecuting, told the court things started off well for the pair following the blind date. She said: "She realised, despite a considerable age gap, they had much in common. She said the relationship in its infancy was amazing.

"She would pay for them to go abroad frequently, bought him clothes and jewellery and invested in his business."

However things began to turn sour and Madine would cause damage to property and snap at her. Miss Mellor said: "It appears his behaviour was borne from jealousy. He didn't like her spending time with her son or ex husband."

The court heard Madine, now of Oliver Crescent, Birtley, Gateshead, agreed to attend therapy and did attend one session. But on December 5 last year his jealous rage ended in serious injury for the woman.

She had been working from home that day and decided to go an collect some Christmas presents after finishing work. When she changed into some black trousers, Madine questioned why she had done so and asked if she was "going back to the house for him and dressing up for him".

She told him she was going to see her son and agreed to get changed and tried, unsuccessfully, to calm him down. He told her he knew he was selfish but that was just the way he was.

The woman gave him a lift to Gosforth High Street and as he was about to get out of the car, he asked for a kiss and she refused. He became angry and walked away, then returned and began to kick and punch the car and pushed the wing mirrors inwards and threw a water bottle at the vehicle.

Miss Mellor said: "She was scared and shaking in fear in the car and she took the first opportunity to drive off to her ex partner's house." When she pulled up, she remained in the car for a few minutes to try to calm down.

However she then saw Madine approaching again and he asked for the keys to the flat. He then warned her: "You better come home after he goes to sleep or I will be back."

A police cordon in place on Graham Park Road in Gosforth.
A police cordon in place on Graham Park Road in Gosforth.

When she got home, he was not there and said he was walking back from Gosforth. She agreed to pick him up and Miss Mellor said: "She said he was at a level of rage she had not seen before."

He was repeatedly shouting, asking if she was going to leave him. She was scared to tell him she wanted to leave him, the court heard.

She said she needed to get out of the car and he then ran round the car, picked up her laptop bag and hit her with it. He then lifted her up in the air and threw her very forcefully against a wall and she fell to the ground.

The woman could feel blood pouring from her ear and the back of her head. Madine, who had driven off, returned and tried to lift her up but she dropped back to the ground.

He then dragged her to the car while shouting at her, put her in the vehicle and took her to the RVI. By the time they got there, she was unconscious..

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She had a laceration to her scalp and was bleeding from the ear. She was admitted the critical care unit and a CT scan revealed a fracture and bleeding on the brain.

As a result of her injuries, she developed left-sided facial nerve palsy and had problems with movement to the left side of her face. She also suffered hearing problems and memory loss, as well as pain.

By February this year, the palsy had improved but was still present and her left-sided hearing loss had not improved. She also had hearing loss on her right side, as well as vertigo and dizziness and was continuing to receive pain medication.

In a victim impact statement, she said: "The attack has changed my life forever. At this point I don't know how I move on from this. I don't know if I will be able to trust any new people in my life."

She said she has flashbacks and added: "I feel betrayed and distraught someone I loved could attack me in such a way." The woman said that due to the fact she lives close to where it happened, she is considering moving and uprooting her family.

She added: "He has completely and utterly broken me as a person."

Madine, who was originally charged with GBH with intent, pleaded guilty to GBH and prosecutors accepted his plea to the lesser charge. He was sentenced to 21 months, suspended for two years, with 100 hours unpaid work and a ten-year restraining order.

David Robinson-Young said Madine, who has no previous convictions, took the victim to hospital when he realised how serious her injuries were, which avoided potentially more serious consequences. He added that Madine was "emotionally immature"

Mr Robinson-Young said Madine lost his dad when he was young and struggled with his emotions. He added: "His relationship with (the victim) was his first real emotional attachment as an adult. When he thought he was losing her he lost control. He deeply regrets this."

Mr Robinson-Young said Madine works as a massage therapist. He said he has attempted suicide twice since the attack and "know what he did was despicable".