Woman secretly called 999 as partner attacked her

Anthony Craggs, who has a string of convictions, admitted assault

A woman secretly called 999 so police could hear her violent partner launching a "terrifying" attack on her, a court has heard.

Anthony Craggs repeatedly punched the woman, strangled her and held a knife against her throat as he said he would kill her during the ordeal in Sunderland, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

The victim said she feared she was going to die and was scared to return to her home.

Craggs, whose criminal record included other domestic abuse offences and a 10-year prison term for robbery, was jailed for three years and nine months after admitting assault.

'Slid phone under fridge'

The couple had been in a relationship for about five and a half years which soured due to Craggs' increasing use of alcohol, prosecutor John Hobley said.

They had been out together on the night of 8 December with Craggs erupting into a rage when they returned to her home.

He attacked her in the kitchen, raining punches down on her face and head as she sat on the floor, before grabbing her throat and squeezing hard causing her to start to lose consciousness, Mr Hobley said.

Craggs then grabbed a knife from a drawer and held it to her throat, telling her he had to kill her because if he let her go she would report him to police, the court heard.

As he made his way into the living room, the woman dialled 999 on her phone and slid it under the fridge so Craggs would not hear the operator, Mr Hobley said.

The call handler was able to hear the woman "pleading" with Craggs as he put his hands around her throat again.

She was finally able to flee after telling him she wanted to get cigarettes from her car and driving away, with police arriving moments later, Mr Hobley said.

'Risk of harm'

In a statement read to the court, the woman said she had been left in pain and with multiple injuries, including swelling and bruising to her face.

She said she was "terrified" and believed she would be killed, adding she was "scared to return" to her home.

The court heard Craggs, of no fixed abode, had 17 convictions for 45 offences, including for robbery for which he was jailed in 2011 and other domestic abuse incidents, such as when he drove his car into his partner's business.

Judge Penny Moreland said he posed a risk of serious harm to the public and ordered him to serve a further one year and three months on extended licence.