A violent thug who refused to accept his relationship was over has been jailed after he strangled her in front of the victim’s young niece.

Dale Thompson called at the woman’s home despite being subject of a non-molestation order before becoming embroiled in an argument and grabbing his former partner by the throat.

The 28-year-old released his grip and let her drop to the floor when the young woman screamed in panic, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, said the defendant returned to the victim’s home a few days later and kicked the door off its hinges when she refused to let him into her home.

He said Thompson was issued with the court order in March last year and had previously breached it before his latest outbursts.

“There was a knock at the door, the complainant answered and saw the defendant,” he said. “They started to argue he grabbed her by the throat, the niece screamed and he let go before he quickly left the area.”

Mr Abrahams said the defendant returned to his partner’s home six-days later and kicked the door off the hinges but the police arrived and quickly arrested him at the scene.

The court heard how the defendant also had similar convictions from a previous relationship.

The Northern Echo: Dale ThompsonDale Thompson (Image: Cleveland Police)

Thompson, of Bodmin Grove, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation, two breaches of a non-molestation order and criminal damage in December last year.

Calum McNicholas, mitigating, said his client was now looking for help to deal with relationships and urged the judge to pass the most lenient sentence possible.

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Recorder Anthony Dunne sentenced Thompson to a total of three years and six months for all offences.

He said: “Your record for offences against previous partners speaks for itself, you have no respect for their wishes and resort to threats and violence when they don’t agree to what you want them to do at the time.

“You also have no respect for court orders.”

Thompson was also made the subject of a ten-year-restraining order.