A leading restaurant and hotel were at the centre of a failed relationship as it descended into violence when a jealous ex confronted his former lover.
Sylvester Scallan tracked his ex-partner down to an award-winning gastro pub before flying into a jealous rage and attacking the mother of his child.
The 34-year-old grabbed the woman and dragged her around after spotting her kissing a man inside The Bay Horse in leafy Hurworth, Teesside Crown Court heard.
And after the talented patisserie chef was released on bail, he sent a threatening message to the man before heading Rockliffe Hall and scrawling the name of his suspected love-rival into a door of the staff accommodation.
Nicci Horton, prosecuting, said the relationship broke down due to Scallan’s manipulative behaviour and came to a head when he read her personal diary.
The court heard how the woman had contacted the police in May last year as she was concerned about his behaviour when he threatened "to snap her neck" and "make her disappear".
The threats took on a more sinister turn when Scallan spotted the pair kissing after lurking outside the popular eatery.
She said: “The woman was out with a friend and had been to the Bay Horse for dinner. As the pair were leaving the pub the defendant appeared and came towards them just after the man had kissed the victim.
“An argument started and quickly became violent, he was grabbing her wrists and trying to get at her even after people had intervened.”
Ms Horton said Scallan smashed a window at the pub before he damaged his ex-partner’s car during his violent outburst.
Scallan was arrested before being released on bail and later turned up at Rockliffe Hall where his ex-partner and the man both worked at the time.
She said: “Scallan carved the name of the man, Allessio, into the door causing damage.”
The court heard how he then set up a new Instagram account and used it to contact the sommelier and threatened: "I’m coming back for you, lad. There’s no playing hide and seek – I’m going to break your bones."
And in a further message, he wrote: "If you go near my child, I will kill you – bang, bang, straight to the head."
The court heard how Scallan was arrested again and was remanded in custody but continued to send messages to his ex-partner in a series of letters to their child.
Scallan, of St Aidans Drive, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to harassment, sending malicious communications, assault by beating and three counts of criminal damage following the incidents on October 8 and 9 last year.
No evidence was offered for charges of controlling and coercive behaviour, possession of a bladed article and common assault on the man.
The court heard how Scallan had a previous conviction for malicious communication after sending a different ex-partner a series of unwanted messages.
Annelise Haugstad, mitigating, said her client was a talented patisserie chef who had been on remand since his arrest on October 9 last year and alcohol had played a significant part in the breakdown of the relationship.
She added: “He recognises that his behaviour as having been abusive and clearly, has some bright future prospects as far as employment is concerned.”
Recorder Bryan Cox KC locked the jealous thug up for a total of 32 months for all offences.
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“You are not unintelligent,” he said. “But your record and these offences, indicate that you have a tendency to behave in a manipulative and controlling manner in relationships.
“It is said in your pre-sentence report that you had some insight into your offending and that you intend to change in future.
“In view of your manipulative nature and past behaviour I must approach that with a degree of scepticism.”
Scallan was also made subject of a five-year restraining order to protect his former partner.
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