A MAN throttled his ex-partner to the point of unconsciousness having also kicked her in the back and legs, a court was told.

The woman, who had been trying to end the abusive four-year relationship with Connor Barrett, had to flee her own locked house by climbing out of a window after coming round.

Durham Crown Court heard she ran to a nearby store, where she rang for her parents.

Barrett followed her to the shop where he threw the snapped key to the front door at her, saying: “Good luck getting back in.”

Jonathan Harley, prosecuting, said when her parents arrived they went back to her house where her mobile phone and a window were found smashed.

She went to hospital, suffering pain and tenderness to her head, neck and to her groin area, where she had also been kicked.

In her victim statement the young mother said: “Connor has ruined my life due to this continual violence. When he was strangling me, I thought I would never see my son again.”

She described Barrett’s behaviour as “unpredictable”, adding that she believed he would end up killing her or someone else.

The court heard the incident, on Sunday March 10, began when he contacted his estranged partner asking if he could come to her home, in Chester-le-Street, to collect his work bag, at 8am.

Although she refused, he did turn up, propping the front wheel of his bike inside the door when she opened it, preventing it from being closed.

Mr Harley said despite saying he did not want “an incident,” the pair began rowing, and he poured a drink over her, while she reciprocated with milk.

When she ran to the living room, Barrett followed, and repeatedly kicked her before the attempted strangulation rendered her unconscious.

Mr Harley said Barrett was racially abusive to an officer later at a police station.

The court heard he has offences on his record of a domestic nature, involving previous partners, dating back to 2012.

Barrett, 25, of Second Avenue, Chester-le-Street, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, criminal damage and racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress, relating to events on March 10.

Liam O’Brien, mitigating, told the court: “He has a very unhealthy propensity to engage in domestic violence.”

But he added that Barrett has worked well while in custody and had time to, “reflect on matters and see the need to change.”

Passing a total 28-month prison sentence, Recorder Peter Makepeace QC told Barrett: “It’s hard to see how you can do so well in the confines of prison but do so badly in a domestic surrounding.”

A lifetime restraining order prohibits Barrett from contacting his former partner.