A woman thought she was going to be killed at the hands of her abusive ex-partner who attacked her in her own home in breach of bail conditions.

Richard Wood was in a relationship with the woman for 18 months until February this year when there was an incident which resulted in him being charged with two counts of assault by beating and one of causing criminal damage.

Durham Crown Court heard that the trained boxer was bailed in those proceedings on the condition he did not contact or approach his former partner.

But, Ellen Wright, prosecuting, told the court that Wood attended her home unannounced, in breach of the bail conditions, on April 26.

(Image: Durham Constabulary)

When she answered Wood’s knock at the door he immediately entered and told her he just wanted to talk.

Miss Wright said Wood followed the shocked woman to her bedroom, where he asked her if they were still going to go to court, “to air their dirty laundry” in public.

He paced around her bedroom and spat at her five or six times, calling her names and berating her, before picking up a candle and smashing it against the wall causing his hand to bleed.

Wood wiped the blood on her bedding, laughed at her and then punched her to the side of the face.

He pinned her down by the chest and struck her in the face with three full-force blows.

Miss Wright said the by now desperate woman was asking Wood to leave, but he told her she just, “wouldn’t shut up”, and grabbed her neck, squeezing tightly to the point where she was struggling to breathe.

The more she tried to free herself, the tighter Wood’s grasp became, and then he changed grip into a headlock, while continuing to squeeze her neck tightly, causing her vision to go blurred.

Miss Wright told the court that the woman said at that stage she felt like she was “fighting for her life” grasping and clawing at Wood.

She managed to free herself from his grip and ran to the bathroom, where she rang for the police, only for Wood to run in and land another forceful punch before he ran away.

When officers attended the house the highly distressed woman told them she thought she was going to be killed.

(Image: Durham Constabulary)

She was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham for treatment for a fracture to an eye socket and suffering bruises to her face and body and abrasions to her neck.

Police found the defendant still in the vicinity of the house, holding a half-full bottle of whisky.

He was arrested and the officers formed the view he was heavily intoxicated.

An impact statement was read to the court by Wood’s former partner who outlined the significant effect the events have had on her, and the nightmares she suffers recalling the attack of that night, which she said left her in, “pure terror.”

She said she feels that her home, which is supposed to be her “safe space”, is, “a crime scene”, which she can’t afford to repair after the various damage caused by Wood.

The victim is now prescribed anti-anxiety medication and sleeping pills.

She added that although her fracture will heal and her bruises will fade, the mental scars will remain with her forever.

Miss White said the defendant’s six convictions for nine offences feature relevant cases of violence and damage.

The 30-year-old defendant, formerly of Pear Lea, in Brandon, admitted charges of intentional strangulation, assault causing actual bodily harm, criminal damage and witness intimidation, having initially denied all but the criminal damage charge.

Kate Barnes, in mitigation, presented various character references to the court on the defendant’s behalf as well as a letter from him to the judge.

Miss Barnes said: “He doesn’t now dispute what is alleged against him.

“He doesn’t make any excuses at all for his conduct and wishes to take responsibility for his actions.

“He expresses remorse for not only what he has done but for initially making his ex-partner think he would be contesting the charges.”

Miss Barnes said since being on remand in prison the defendant has had a diagnosis that he has ADHD, for which he is now receiving the correct medication.

She said he is working with the mental health team in the prison to try to ensure he does not repeat his offending in future.

He also has "mentor" status to help other inmates, working on the prisoner information desk.

Judge Jo Kidd told Wood: “You knew full well you should not have gone anywhere near to your former partner’s home.

“You were intoxicated and you decided to barge your way in and almost immediately became very violent and aggressive to her.

“You are a trained fighter and because of the difference in sizes between you, she would not have been capable of fighting back against you.

“You persisted in that strangulation to the point where, understandably, she saw her life flash before her eyes.

“Then you rained blows with such force to her face, knowing her vulnerabilities.

(Image: The Northern Echo) “You sought to dominate and terrify her in her own bedroom and intimidate her, knowing she was to be a witness against you for earlier violence.”

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Imposing a 38-month prison sentence, Judge Kidd told Wood it would have been a four-and-a-half year starting point had he not pleaded guilty and but for his recent progress while in custody.

She also made him subject of a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting or approaching the victim and forbidding him from going to her home address or 100 yards from anywhere she may be living.

The order will remain in place "indefinitely", effectively, “until further order.”