DOMESTIC ABUSER CAUGHT BY HIS OWN SECURITY CAMERA
A man has been jailed after security footage from his own home camera caught him threatening his partner with a knife.Anthony Murgatroyd, 38, had installed a motion-activated camera in his home to discover which of his dogs was chewing the furniture.
Instead, the device recorded him carrying out a violent attack on his partner with a so-called zombie knife.
Murgatroyd, of Waverley Garth, Beeston, appeared at Leeds Crown Court where he admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possessing a zombie knife in private, which is prohibited under the Criminal Justice Act 1988.
He also pleaded guilty to a previous domestic assault.
He was sentenced to 20 months in prison.
West Yorkshire Police described the incident as a "prolonged and violent attack." The court heard Murgatroyd dragged his victim into the street and struck her before she ran back inside.
He pursued her, hitting her on the head and yanking her by the hair.
He then picked up the knife from the floor and lunged at her, thrusting it towards her face and making stabbing and slashing gestures at her body.
Police said he went on to pull a screwdriver from his jogging bottoms, shoving it at her face and striking her again.
The woman eventually broke free and ran to neighbours for help, who then alerted police.
Detective Superintendent Lee Berry said: "This was a prolonged and violent attack involving weapons, and the victim feared for her life during what was an absolutely terrifying ordeal.
"She was left so distressed and afraid of Murgatroyd that she felt unable to support a prosecution against him, but once officers secured and viewed the footage from the 'dog cam' they were able to use that as key evidence to progress to charges.
"We are committed to doing everything we can to tackle violence against women and girls and we take all reports of domestic abuse seriously and use all available means to bring offenders to justice."
