Stockton man threatened his partner with meat cleaver

John Poole left his victim feeling worthless and resulted in her closing down her own business as a result of his controlling behaviour, a judge heard.

The 47-year-old would not leave the woman alone and would even follow her to the toilet during their relatively short-lived relationship.

Teesside Crown Court heard how it came to a halt when the defendant attacked the woman in her home when she returned from work and he grabbed her phone out of hand when she was talking to a former partner.

Peter Sabiston, prosecuting, said: “He told the caller ‘she’s mine’ before threatening her with a meat cleaver and sharpener while looking her straight in the eye.

“She tried to leave but he said to her ‘where are you going dressed like that? You sl**’.”

Mr Sabiston said the complainant left the house but later met up with Poole who asked her if she had been with other men during her absence.

“He had clearly become angry, he clenched his fist and snarled at her while he was in her face, she could see the hatred building up in him,” he said.

“She was punched to the head, slung to the bed where the assault continued and was then thrown against a wall and fallen to the floor. Still in a rage, he bit her to the shoulder.

“She escaped to a neighbour's house but he dragged her back and threw her onto the stairs. He then kicked the door off the hinges before he went to bed.”

In a victim impact statement, the woman said she had closed down her business due to the impact of his behaviour as it ‘turned her life upside down’.

John Poole (Image: Cleveland Police)

Poole, of High Street, Stockton, was found guilty of two charges of controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm between February 1, 2022, and October 24 that year following at trial.

Nicci Horton, mitigating, said her client still didn’t fully accept that some of his behaviour was controlling but accepted the verdict of the jury.

She added: “He now acknowledges he does need some assistance with dealing with and understanding spousal abuse and how that works.”

Recorder Ayesha Smart sentenced Poole to two years and six months in prison for all offences.

“I have read your pre-sentence report with care and you appear to minimise your offending behaviour when you know full well you were convicted of all the particulars of coercive and controlling behaviour,” she said.

“There were separate occasions where you kicked food from her hand, threatened her with a meat cleaver, pushed her into a fish tank and damaged doors in the house.

“That was all before October when things came to a head and you assaulted her.”

Poole was issued with a three-year restraining order to protect his victim.