A businessman launched a vile attack on his long-term partner after she confronted him about his affair and forced her to eat washing powder whilst threatening to kill her, a court heard.

Joynull Hussain reacted violently when his affair was uncovered and kicked the woman before dragging her into his home where he held a knife to her throat before telling her he planned to torture her.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 28-year-old stuck her head down the toilet and flushed it as well as pouring washing up liquid over her head and spitting in her face.

Annelise Haugstad, prosecuting, said Hussain’s partner called for an ambulance as she was struggling with her eye but the paramedics didn’t believe the story she told them about how she got washing powder in her eyes.

She said the injured woman was eventually taken to hospital and gave them an account of what really happened to her and Hussain was overheard by police making a threatening phone call her and demanding money.

The Northern Echo: Joynull Hussain. Picture: DURHAM CONSTABULARYJoynull Hussain. Picture: DURHAM CONSTABULARY

Detailing the abuse the woman suffered, Miss Haugstad said: “He shoved her causing her to fall to the floor outside her home, once inside he kicked her leg and dragged her by the hair into the kitchen.

“Once there he placed his hands around her throat and strangled, she felt like she was going to pass out. He then held a knife to her neck, threatened that he would kill but then told her he would torture her instead.”

The court heard how Hussain then forced washing powder into her mouth before pouring washing up liquid over her head and told her to swallow the washing powder.

She added: “He dragged her into the bedroom, forced her head into the toilet and flushed it. He placed a plastic bag over her head for ten to 15 seconds.”

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The judge heard how Hussain took a photograph of her kneeling on the kitchen floor covered in washing up liquid before threatening to pour boiling water over her.

Hussain, of Salisbury Terrace, Darlington, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, threats to kill, and making malicious communications, following the events of March 3 this year.

Paul Abrahams, in mitigation, said his client was a businessman and accepted that he was facing a custodial sentence for the abuse he inflicted on his former partner.

Recorder Alex Menary jailed Hussain for three years and nine months for all offences.

“You further humiliated her by taking pictures of her that you proposed to send to her mother,” he said.

“You threatened to pour boiling water in her face and disfigure her, you then splashed boiling water round her feet while she was kneeling on the floor. Mercifully, she was not injured by any of that water – had she been so, your sentence would have been longer.”

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