SPENNYMOOR THUG ATTACKED EX'S EYES AFTER TEARING DOOR OFF HINGES
Durham Crown Court was told Connor Garnett, now 24, was made subject of the five-year restraining order at York Crown Court, after receiving an 11-month sentence for strangulation of the same woman, in November 2023.A judge told him he appeared to show “complete disregard” for the order and committed previous breaches last year for which he was sentenced in January.
In February this year he contacted her again and the court heard, “matters became worse” when he stayed at her home in Spennymoor, in May.
Judge Nathan Adams told Garnett: “It makes no difference, whatsoever, whether or not she allowed you to stay, it matters not one jot.” The court was told that Garnett came into her room while she was in bed, ripped the door from its hinges and threw it at a wall - all in the presence of a young child.
He pressed his thumbs into her eyes and then went on to make threats for several minutes while holding a hammer, making her fear for her life.
Garnett left, but returned two days later and when she decided to take steps to move away he contacted her persistently, all, also, in breach of the order.
He told her he would “see her on Wednesday”, and then tapped on her window.
After it was reported to police, Garnett was arrested and has since been in custody.
Having made initial denials of all the charges, at his first court appearance in the case, in June, Garnett, of Blair Avenue, Spennymoor, went on to admit four breaches of the restraining order, common assault and affray, at hearings in September and October.
Imposing a three-year prison sentence, Judge Adams said given the time he has spent in custody the defendant will probably have to serve about another year before being released on licence.
The judge also doubled the length of the defendant’s existing restraining order.
It now runs for ten years from being invoked, taking it to November 28, 2033.
