Domestic abuser jailed for attacking ex-girlfriend

Joshua Sullivan was jailed for more than three years

A domestic abuser who deliberately crashed his ex-girlfriend's car, threatened her with a knife and ordered her not to tell the police has been jailed.

Joshua Sullivan, 24, carried out a campaign of emotional, psychological and physical abuse against his partner during their two-year relationship, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

After she broke up with him, he bombarded her with calls before attacking her, stealing her car and threatening to kill her.

Sullivan, of no fixed abode, admitted multiple offences including aggravated vehicle taking, assault, harassment and witness intimidation. He was jailed for three years and four months.

'Nothing to lose'

The couple's relationship ended in March this year despite Sullivan attempting to use "emotional blackmail" and threatening to harm himself, prosecutor Susannah Proctor said.

During a night out in Newcastle on 23 March, he called the woman 13 times from an unknown number and the victim felt she had no choice but to take him to her home in Wallsend, the court heard.

At her house he attacked her several times then took her Citroen C3 and deliberately crashed it, Ms Proctor said.

He also got a kitchen knife and lunged at the woman saying he would kill her, a threat he had made multiple times previously, before starting to hack at his own neck, the court heard.

After being arrested and released on bail, he called the woman another 24 times over a four-hour period on 1 April and told her not to hang up or he would come to her house as he had "nothing left to lose", Ms Proctor said.

He told the woman not to make any more statements to the police which amounted to witness intimidation, the court heard.

'Punched while pregnant'

In a statement read to the court, the woman said Sullivan had been repeatedly abusive throughout their relationship with violence including him regularly biting her face.

She said he "quickly understood" her insecurities and "took advantage" of them, regularly insulting her and destroying her self-confidence while isolating her from friends and family.

The woman had to give him money for nights out with his friends but she was not allowed to go out and socialise, the court heard.

When she fell pregnant he said she had to keep the baby so it could be proved she had not cheated on him, the court heard, and when she refused he punched her in the stomach.

She said he often harmed himself in front of her and blamed her for it, telling her one day he would kill himself and the police would pin it on her and send her to prison.

On the night he took her car, he drove through multiple bus lanes to generate massive fines "out of spite" which she had had to pay, the woman said.

She said she remained scared of him and what he would do next.

In mitigation, the court heard his issues related to his use of alcohol and drugs and he had sought counselling.

A restraining order banning Sullivan, who had multiple previous convictions for offences including robbery and burglary from contacting the woman or attending her home or place of work, was also made.

He was also banned from driving for three years and one month.