A MAN on trial for the murder of his former girlfriend wept yesterday as he admitted his use of extreme violence against her over the years was intended to cause serious harm.

Paul Northey, under cross examination by Adrian Waterman, prosecuting, accepted that pulling clumps of hair from Kathryn Cook’s head would have caused her to be in agony.

Newcastle Crown Court heard he had done it to hurt her several times during their relationship and had done on June 25, 2008 – the day she was found unconscious by her ten-year-old daughter, Rebecca.

“Was it intended to cause serious harm?” Mr Waterman asked.

Northey, a 42-year-old block paver, stared at the floor in silence for a few moments, before answering “yes”.

“Is strangling someone intended to cause serious harm?” Mr Waterman asked.

Northey, of Wylam Road Stanley, County Durham, said: “I never meant to. I have never been glad when I have done it.”

He became emotional and asked for a break, dabbing his eyes with tissue and blowing his nose before he was led away.

Northey was arrested about two hours after Ms Cook, 44, was found lying on her bed at home in Penshaw Gardens, Stanley.

She died in January 2009, four days after Northey was sentenced after admitting wounding with intent.

Northey said he pleaded guilty because he was advised to by his legal representatives to get a lesser sentence.

While he admits a row over a purse that belonged to a friend’s mother turned violent when he pulled out at least five clumps of Ms Cook’s hair, he denied strangling her or striking her hard to the back of her head.

He repeated four times: “I did not strangle Kathryn Cook,” and was reminded that Ms Cook did have strangulation marks on her neck.

Northey, who was addicted to amphetamines, had taken some “speed” earlier that day, and drunk about five bottles of beer.

He said the blow that caused the injuries that eventually led to her death could have happened when he pushed her over as he tried to keep the purse away from her.

The trial continues.