A MAN warned his partner not to return home from a friend’s house as their relationship deteriorated, telling her, “things would get violent,” a court heard.

Jordan Storey’s words proved prophetic when she did come home, by taxi, at 2.20am on January 9 this year.

Durham Crown Court was told Storey was “smirking and snarling” at her, before grabbing her by the top of her left arm and flinging her to the bottom of the stairs, where she landed on her left shoulder.

Neil Jones, prosecuting, said she briefly blacked out, but when she came around she was in “horrific pain”.

The Northern Echo: Jordan Storey warned partner things would 'get violent' if she returned home, court told Picture: DURHAM CONSTABULARY Jordan Storey warned partner things would 'get violent' if she returned home, court told Picture: DURHAM CONSTABULARY

She told Storey she believed her left arm was broken, but he accused her of being “dramatic” and said it would just be dislocated, again picking her up by it causing a “pop”.

Although she tried to fight back, digging her nails into his leg, Storey again grabbed her arm, once more causing it to “pop”, leaving her in such pain that she was physically sick.

Mr Jones said the woman went into the front room and realised many of the furnishings were damaged or destroyed, including the tv set, with glass covering the floor.

Storey then either punched or back-handed her in the face, before following her to the kitchen, where he smashed bottles and her mobile phone, while other items, including an extractor fan, were also damaged.

Telling her she owed him money for a bus pass, he dragged her by the hair to the couch.

She begged him to leave her alone, but Storey grabbed her and warned her not to contact the police or he would kill her.

Mr Jones said Storey briefly left the house, but soon returned and again grabbed her hair, punched and kicked her and picked up a meat cleaver, threatening to kill her.

She felt a blow to the side of the head, but she thought it may have been caused by the handle of the cleaver.

After again begging him not to kill her, Storey kicked her to the top of the leg and punched her in the face, finally leaving after pulling a clump of her hair from the top of her head.

Storey subsequently sent her voice mails accusing her of cheating on him.

A friend nearby took her to hospital for treatment to the suspected dislocated shoulder and other injuries, including split lip and extensive bruising.

She later discovered more damage to furniture upstairs, including a bedroom door pulled off its hinges.

Read more: County Durham man subjected partner to a 'sustained beating'

In her victim statement, she said she still suffers flashbacks at the ordeal that night, which she estimated lasted an hour.

She said she still lives in the part-damaged house, in Blackhall, as she has been unable to fund all the necessary repairs.

Storey, 31, of Stratton Street, Spennymoor, who has seven convictions for 18 past offences, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, making threats to kill and criminal damage.

Jane Waugh, mitigating, said only one of those past offences was for violence, and since his arrest, Storey has had his first taste of custody, “which has been no easy ride”.

Miss Waugh said at the time of the latest offending, the defendant was, “not in the best of mental health”, having lost two friends who died in tragic circumstances.

She said those mental health issues played, “a significant role” in the offending of January 9, and a psychiatric report has highlighted an emotionally unstable personality disorder, plus a dependence on drugs, causing him to suffer with depression.

Miss Waugh added that medication administered while in custody has helped to make him more stable.

Recorder Tom Moran said the defendant has, “a propensity to hold a grudge”, and poses a high risk of harm to partners.

Imposing a four-year prison sentence he made Storey subject of an indefinite restraining order forbidding future contact or approaches to the victim.

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