Woman feared scary Exeter ex would end up killing her

A thug boyfriend has been jailed for subjecting his ex partner to a terrifying campaign of threats and violence. John Matthews, 39, headbutted the woman in the foyer of a hotel in Paignton and sent messages saying he would shank any new boyfriend she had.

His constant pestering left her with "little or no head space" to deal with his suffocating presence in her life and she feared he was capable of killing her, Exeter Crown Court heard. The judge said Matthews, who has a history of similar offending, clearly has anger problems when in relationships.

The defendant, of Gould Road in Exeter, pleaded guilty to multiple offences, the most serious being harassment creating fear of violence and battery, and was jailed for 14 months.

READ MORE: November court cases: Devon damage and Exeter violence

READ MORE: Devon party DJ jailed for assault on child

The harassment happened in August and September of this year. Matthews bombarded the woman with messages and calls, sometimes from withheld numbers. He would say he loved her but also that she would never get away from him and he would stab any new partner she had.

The assault in the Paignton hotel happened after an argument. She was left with a large bump to her forehead.

She said in a victim statement that Matthews' behaviour also included him letting himself into her flat having taken her keys and she feared he would turn up again. The situation left her in constant fear.

Matthews ignored police bail conditions not to contact the woman and has two previous convictions for harassment involving previous partners. Attempts to rehabilitate him had not worked, said Judge David Evans.

The defendant also pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker while in a holding cell at Torquay police station, the theft of an Amazon parcel from a doorstep in Teignmouth, two common assaults on workmen and criminal damage to a vehicle.

The court was told Matthews has ADHD and possibly PTSD. He tends to lose his temper when drinking. But he has a good work ethic and has done well in custody awaiting sentence.

"She felt you were capable of killing her," said Judge David Evans. Matthews was given a five-year restraining order not to contact his ex-partner.