A man said to have become “irrationally jealous” at the end of a relationship was jailed for his angry reaction to a phone call an ex-partner took in his presence, a court heard.

Jason Stephen Dixon assaulted the woman and caused damage at her home, before, on a later date, using subterfuge to force his way in to her property to carry out further violence and make more threats.

Durham Crown Court heard that in the first incident, on July 11, last year, he shook and slapped his ex-partner, causing her nose to bleed, before threatening her with a knife from her kitchen, as she curled up, “cowering” on the floor, vomiting and fearing for her life.

During the prolonged incident he also smashed some of her windows and a television set.

Read more: Woman was left unconscious in street in Seaham after attack by partner

Annelise Haugstad, prosecuting, told the court the victim later received messages threatening both her and her family, while, shortly before 11pm, CCTV showed a figure in dark clothing approaching her address, coinciding with further texts being sent.

Miss Haugstad said the victim went to hospital with bruising and swelling to her face, eyes, the bridge of her nose and to her left inner thigh.

Two days later, while wanted by police, Dixon went back to her home and shouted through the letterbox, threatening to smash her windows, at a time when she was at a friend’s house.

In a further incident, on August 17, the defendant, who was still at large, joined by another male, barged into her home, following the woman’s teenage daughter into the property when she returned, between 2 and 3am.

Although he was asked to leave, Dixon told his ex-partner: “You’re not such a clever little c*** now”.

The victim shouted to alert her neighbours and went upstairs intending to call the police, but Dixon followed, punched her in the face and took her phone, snapping it in two so she was unable to ring for help.

He then locked the door on his way out to make it difficult for her to leave to raise the alert.

When she managed to do so, her mother photographed her daughter to show the extent of her injuries.

Read more: County Durham man jailed for 'reprehensible' attack on former partner

Miss Haugstad told the court that the victim was moved to a safe house by social services and when she gave a statement to police she said she had not felt safe in her own home and was petrified in case Dixon returned, causing her to struggle to sleep.

She said she felt he would not leave her alone, constantly messaging her and her friends, adding that she was in hiding from him.

Dixon was finally arrested on August 23, but only after going onto a roof and throwing a tile at a police officer coming to arrest him, striking him, causing an abrasion.

He also threw roof tiles at two police vehicles.

Dixon initially denied all charges relating to his ex-partner, at a hearing in September, but changed his pleas to admit two assaults and three cases of damaging her property, namely windows, the tv set and her phone, at a further hearing, in December.

He also admitted assaulting an emergency worker and attempting to damage property, arising from his arrest.

The court was told the 35-year-old defendant, of Potter Place, Stanley, has 36 convictions for 70 offences, including nine for violence against the person.

Josh Normaton, in mitigation, told the hearing: “He’s genuinely sorry for what he’s done.

"He was keen for me to impress that on the sentencing court.

“It’s fair to say he’s somewhat frustrated at the way he acts and finds himself constantly ending up in toxic relationships and keeps finding himself in these situations.

“He accepts he has a serious problem with jealousy as he struggles to control his anger in disputes.

“He does appear to have developed an insight into how he keeps getting involved in these disputes.

“He understands he has to control his anger and avoid toxic relationships.”

Judge James Adkin told Mr Normanton that his client also needs to avoid crack cocaine.

Mr Normanton added: “This is not a man who doesn’t care for women and goes about beating them up.

“He has some ingrained thoughts and disability that effects how he leads his life.”

Sentencing him, Judge Adkin told Dixon he would, firstly, put in place a restraining order, “something you are familiar with”.

In this case it applies to his former partner and applies for five years.

Judge Adkin told Dixon he behaved with, “irrational jealousy”, after she took a phone call, carrying out the “persistent assault”, leaving her, “petrified”.

The judge said Dixon then used, “a measure of planning”, to gain access to her home on August 17, having, on his own admission, taken crack cocaine.

He went on to carry out the further assault and smashed his "ex's" phone.

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Judge Adkin told Dixon he has, “a bad record”, and appeared to be, “a recalcitrant abuser” of women.

The judge said in the defendant's mitigation the pre-sentence report stated he suffered with adhd, causing him to behave impulsively.

Imposing an immediate 25-month prison sentence, Judge Adkin added that by taking crack cocaine it only exacerbated Dixon’s reaction in incidents of this sort.