DARLINGTON THUG SLAPPED EX AND THREATENED TO KILL HER
Doyle, of Geneva Road, Darlington, turned red on seeing a month-long message exchange which aroused his suspicions that the woman had seen someone else behind his back.Durham Crown Court heard that the defendant, who was only 19 at the time, went to her home and attacked her.
David Ward, prosecuting, said Doyle grabbed her by the hair and dragged her across the room leaving her shocked.
The couple had been in a relationship, at the time for only a few months when that assault took place, during July 2022.
Mr Ward said the relationship broke off after that but was rekindled in 2024.
It was during this time that the second offence took place when Doyle again attended the woman’s home, in Cockfield, near Bishop Auckland, on June 9 this year.
He was, again, in a rage and dragged her into the bedroom, pinning her to the bed, then firmly placed his arm around her neck and threatened to kill her.
When he finally released his grip he also slapped the woman across the face.
The victim said she is no longer the same person she used to be and is always worried when the door opens as she knows he has a key and she is scared he may return.
Just informing the police of his attacks made her feel like “a huge weight off my shoulders”, but she added there is now, “no going back.” Mr Ward said the defendant, now aged 22, has eight convictions for 14 offences, three for assaults and two for causing damage.
Doyle received prison sentences totaling 20 months for assaults on ex-partner, with sentences of 17 months for the intentional strangulation offence and a further three months for the assault charge.
Doyle, initially pleaded not guilty but admitted charges of assault causing actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation.
He was also subject to a restraining order, prohibiting him from contacting or approaching the victim for ten years.
