A man with a “propensity for violence” has been jailed for a savage attack on a man in his own home, also assaulting the victim’s partner and killing his dog.

Angus Hollingsworth, assisted by his younger brother, Cameron, called unannounced at the victim’s home in Consett, at 10.30am on October 23, 2022.

Newcastle Crown Court heard they had been there the previous evening to buy drugs from the male householder to whom Cameron Hollingsworth had a debt.

The court was told that on their return the next morning when the door was opened by the householder’s partner, the brothers, both armed and with hoods up, barged past the startled woman.

Angus Hollingsworth produced a large kitchen knife, while his brother Cameron was carrying an axe.

(Image: Durham Constabulary)

Hollingsworth inflicted three wounds on the couple’s pet Neapolitan mastiff, Kama, one a deep neck incision, from which it had to be put down.

Paul Cleasby, prosecuting, said the male householder, who was sleeping on the settee, woke and tried to protect the dog, but Hollingsworth turned the knife on him, targeting his neck and head area.

He inflicted four or five injuries, one a deep 6 - 7cm laceration to his left cheek, with muscle left visible from the gaping wound.

Another blow was close to an artery, which was spurting blood, while there were also injuries caused to an eyebrow and the victim’s right flank.

Mr Cleasby said, suffering heavy blood loss and fearing for his life, he managed to clamber from the living room window and ran to seek help.

His partner, who had tried to pull Angus Hollingsworth away, was struck on the head by him, causing two knife lacerations.

Cameron Hollingsworth grabbed her and kicked her to the head as she fell to the floor, while Angus told him he was not being forceful enough, stamping on her twice.

The brothers then fled the house together, using bleach to try to clear up some of the blood staining.

Mr Cleasby said they remained at large until the following day when both were arrested.

Angus Hollingsworth threatened to stab the arresting officer, PC Ryan Murley, before discarding an item in bushes, which was not recovered.

(Image: Durham Constabulary)

Cameron beckoned his brother to attack the lone officer, who was also spat at, in the eye, by Angus Hollingsworth when placing him in a police van.

The defendant told him he had hepatitis and HIV, and it was only after several tests weeks later that the officer was given the all-clear.

Mr Cleasby said both defendants gave largely no comment replies to police questioning, but when asked about the dog attack, Angus Hollingsworth denied it, saying he would rather watch a police officer being assaulted than consider harming a dog.

Having been initially charged with attempted murder, it was only midway through the subsequent trial, last year, that alternative pleas were tendered which were considered acceptable.

Angus Hollingsworth, now 29, of no fixed abode, but formerly living in the Chester-le-Street area, admitting charges of wounding with intent, unlawful wounding, criminal damage, possessing a bladed article and assaulting an emergency worker.

He also admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and common assault in unrelated attacks on his now former partner, which took place in September and October 2022, the latter in public in Chester-le-Street town centre.

(Image: Durham Constabulary)

Friday’s (August 9) sentencing hearing was read victim statements given by the couple who were attacked in their own home, plus Hollingsworth’s former partner.

The man who suffered the stab wounds said he struggled to sleep after the attacks, particularly lamenting the loss of his loved family dog and has now moved home.

He was said to have suffered panic attacks and flashbacks, while also losing a lot of weight.

His partner said she still feels “traumatised and shocked” in the aftermath of the attack, which she said was, “completely out of the blue”.

The victim of the domestic assaults said she still has nightmares and becomes very nervous when anyone approaches her, particularly if they are male.

Mr Cleasby said Angus Hollingsworth’s 61 past offences include 11 for violence of various sorts, dating back to 2007, when he was only aged 12.

Chris Knox, in mitigation, told the court: “He’s aware that it’s a serious case and he’ll get a significant sentence.”

Mr Knox said the defendant suffers from ADHD and has, “other difficulties”, which he said, “were clearly exacerbated by the use of drugs.”

But Mr Knox told Judge Robert Adams he was dealing with him now, “approaching two years after the events”.

He said while in custody Hollingsworth has completed a methadone script and is now over any substance misuse, on a drug-free wing on remand in Durham Prison.

Mr Knox said having never had “useful work” he has got a job in prison as a cleaner and appears to have begun to address his issues, after a “terribly sad” background of his formative years.

(Image: The Northern Echo)

Judge Adams said while considering the defendant “a dangerous offender”, having read probation reports he accepts Hollingsworth’s behaviour, while in custody, has improved over the last year.

But he said leading up to events of late October 2022, “you had a completely unbroken history of violence, as demonstrated in your antecedent history.”

The judge told the defendant: “You’ve had a clear propensity for violence, exacerbated by your use of drugs.”

Referring specifically to the attack at the house in Consett, Judge Adams told him: “It was undoubtedly a prolonged and persistent assault only ended when the victim escaped through a window in panic.”

He imposed an extended determinate sentence totalling 11-and-a-half years, with a custodial element of eight-and-a-half years (102 months).

Hollingsworth must serve two-thirds of the custodial element, five years and eight months, before being eligible for consideration for release by the Parole Board.

But he may have to serve the full 102 months, and he will then be on extended licence supervision for three years.

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He was also made subject of indefinite restraining orders prohibiting him from contacting or approaching the three victims of his violence.

  • Cameron Hollingsworth, now 23, of Croxdale, near Durham, received a 14-week prison sentence after admitting assault causing actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon, at a hearing last November.

He had already spent 250-days in custody by the time he was sentenced.