Man pretended to be 'Satanic', waving knife at 'ex' at her Horden home

Jonathan Maxwell frequently flouted a non-molestation order by turning up at the woman’s home, and, in one drink and possibly drug-fuelled incident, threatened her with a large knife, pretending to be having a psychotic episode, as if he was Satanic.

The 34-year-old defendant admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and damaging the fridge, mirror and blind belonging to the victim, both committed in an incident at her Horden home on July 8 last year, when he appeared at Durham Crown Court last August.

But he denied other offences from an earlier incident, on May 13, and the case was set down for a trial at the court on January 2 this year.

On the day of trial, however, Maxwell admitted threatening to burn down his ex’s home, causing an affray and attending her home in breach of a non-molestation order, which was put in place by the Family Court, almost a year earlier.

The prosecution accepted those pleas and the case was adjourned for sentencing him for all the admitted offences this week.

He appeared for the sentencing hearing via video link from nearby Durham Prison, where he has been on remand throughout proceedings.

Paul Cleasby, prosecuting, said Maxwell admitted having harassed the woman, as well as being verbally abusive to her, going to her property and making repeated phone calls.

Mr Cleasby said the victim stands at only 5ft 2ins, weighing eight stones, compared to the defendant, who he said is about 6ft 5ins tall.

The woman said that when the defendant loses his temper it “intimidated” her and despite the prohibitions of the non-molestation order, he contacted her on Christmas Day, 2022, engaging in conversation, before going to her property.

Mr Cleasby said she was in the company of a friend, drinking alcohol, and Maxwell joined them, but at 4am the following morning he lost his temper and was asked to leave.

He later apologised and in March last year the relationship was rekindled at a time his now-ex partner was ill.

Maxwell helped to look after her and was described as behaving like, “the perfect gentleman”.

By early May he told her he needed somewhere to live, so she allowed him to stay at her home, but on the basis it was not to be a permanent arrangement.

Mr Cleasby said the incidents on May 13 arose after the pair had been drinking until the early hours and Maxwell, while inebriated, told her she was in danger from an associate of his, as if purporting to be some form of gangster.

She tried to laugh off his remarks, but Maxwell, “completely lost his temper and self-control”, subjecting her to a prolonged assault, during which he threatened to burn down her house.

He forcibly pulled her from the settee, causing her to land on her head, and threatened to further harm both her and her friend.

When she made the excuse of needing to go to the toilet in the hope of ringing for the police he made further threats, holding knives to her to reinforce his claims, causing her to have a panic attack.

Maxwell told her to shut up, threatening to cut her throat, if she did not do as he said, and the petrified woman sat on the sofa fearing he would use the nine to 10in knife he was waving around.

Mr Cleasby said when her friend shouted at Maxwell, he pretended to be having a psychotic episode as if he was some form of Satanic being.

His ex-partner then took the chance of going upstairs to ring for the police and when informed, Maxwell threatened to “take them down” with him.

He left, but handed himself into a police station two days later, when he declined to answer any questions, but he did state that he neither threatened to kill her or burn down his ex-partner’s house.

Maxwell was bailed ahead of an appearance before magistrates, but a condition was made that he was prohibited from entering Horden.

Mr Cleasby said Maxwell turned up, however, knocking at her door, demanding to be let in, threatening violence, on July 8.

He left, but returned later, threatening to damage her property, accusing her of being responsible for trying to get him sent to jail.

During the incident he smashed a mirror on the wall, punched the fridge, and took hold of his ex-partner, putting her down on a mattress before sitting on her legs causing pain to her feet, ignoring her pleas to move.

He then bit her neck causing great pain and leaving her with a massive bruise.

Maxwell was later arrested and denied both the assault and damaging property.

Mr Cleasby said the victim felt vulnerable in her own home and has been left suffering mental health difficulties, with the on-going court proceedings having a further detrimental effect.

In a victim statement she said she had suffered a personality disorder because of the trauma the whole episode had caused her.

She said she was left with post-traumatic stress disorder, similar to the condition suffered by veterans and does not know how she is going to move on, doubting whether she will be able to trust anyone again.

The court heard that Maxwell, formerly of a men's hostel in Plawsworth, near Chester-le-Street, has previous offences of violence, including in a domestic setting, on his record.

Caroline McGurk, for the defendant, told the court: “There are two Jonathan Maxwells.

“One, when not struggling with his issues, is a rational, coherent and polite man.

“The other is the man who finds he has lost his liberty due to his offending behaviour.

“Alcohol is the trigger and has led to drug misuse.

“He knows the effect, combined with his mental health issues, has a detrimental impact on his behaviour.

“He has pledged to give up the use of both.”

She said he accepted causing serious psychological harm to the victim and has been taking medication during his seven months in custody, seeking to address his own mental health issues.

Miss McGurk told the court: “There is a significant prospect of rehabilitation in this case”, adding that the defendant is, “motivated to change,” while working hard on work tasks in prison.

“He accepts responsibility and has not sought to minimise it, showing a willingness to address his offending behaviour.”

Judge Jo Kidd told Maxwell: “You have a worrying history of violence to women with whom you are in a relationship with.

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“Despite having had the assistance of the Probation Service for a number of these offences, it hasn’t caused you to be deterred from similar offending.”

Judge Kidd told Maxwell the impact he has had on his ex-partner’s life has been, “severe”, causing her, “significant psychological harm.”

Imposing a five-year prison sentence, she also made him subject of a restraining order, prohibiting Maxwell from having contact or approaching the victim indefinitely, effectively for life.