Man stabbed ex-partner's friend in 'jealous rage'

Aaron Hinsley admitted intentional wounding and stalking

A man who kicked his way into his ex-partner's home and repeatedly stabbed her male friend in a "jealous rage" has been jailed for five years and nine months.

Aaron Hinsley, 27, had stalked the woman for days before following through on a threat to attack anyone she might start dating, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

He had ignored police warnings to leave the woman alone, enlisted a neighbour to spy on her and carried out the attack with their young children in the house.

Hinsley, of Ingram Drive in Blyth, admitted intentional wounding, aggravated burglary and stalking with a fear of violence.

The woman and Hinsley had been in a relationship for about four years before it ended in September 2024, prosecutor Sam Faulks said.

He began bombarding the woman with "possessive and threatening" messages, including claims he would "go nuts" and attack her and anyone else she might begin dating, the court heard.

Hinsley repeatedly went to her home despite her pleas for him to stay away, and police twice telling him not to contact her, the court heard.

He also persuaded a neighbour to let him know if she had any visitors, the court heard.

'Appalling attack'

On the evening of 10 October he turned up at her door shortly after a male friend had gone to visit, Mr Faulks said.

The terrified woman told the man to hide in her bedroom wardrobe as Hinsley kicked and smashed his way through the front door, the court heard.

Hinsley pursued the pair upstairs and pulled a knife out of his pocket which he then used to repeatedly stab the man.

He also swung the blade at his former partner, and she was convinced he would have stabbed her in the lung if her friend had not pushed her out of the way, Mr Faulks said.

The male victim suffered wounds to his face and shoulder, including an injury close to his eye, before Hinsley, who started filming the victim on his phone, fled the property, the court heard.

As he left he smashed a TV in the woman's bedroom, Mr Faulks said.

In mitigation, Ian Cook said Hinsley had stopped taking medication for depression and other mental health conditions and was self-medicating with cocaine, cannabis and alcohol.

Mr Cook said Hinsley was in a "fit of jealous rage" fuelled by drugs and alcohol, and not stabilised by his regular medication, when he carried out the "appalling attack".

Recorder Peter Makepeace KC called Hinsley's stalking of his ex-girlfriend "nasty".

Restraining orders banning Hinsley from contacting either of his victims were made to last indefinitely.