JONATHAN LAYDON

HARTLEPOOL MAN JAILED FOR ARSON AND STRANGULATION OF EX-PARTNER

A man who started a fire in his ex-partner’s shed has been jailed after he returned to her home and strangled her during a row.

Jonathan Laydon was sleeping in the victim’s shed when he set the blaze using a cigarette before calling 999.

The court heard that Laydon, aged 34, was initially released on police bail with an order to stay away from his ex.

However, he returned to her home in Hartlepool two months later, and during an argument, he grabbed her and strangled her until she lost consciousness.

The prosecution, led by Albany Kidd, stated that Laydon had gone into the woman’s shed without permission and caused a fire in February of that year.

He was later arrested but released on bail again.

Ms Kidd mentioned that in April he was back at her Hartlepool home, and after an argument where the woman tried to escape from him, Laydon strangled her.

The court saw photographs showing clear marks of exertion around her neck.

Laydon pleaded guilty to arson on February 10 and non-fatal intentional strangulation on April 27.

The judge, Recorder Aisha Wadoodi, sentenced him to two years in custody for both crimes, noting that he used a cigarette to start the fire and exerted significant pressure during the strangulation, causing the victim to lose consciousness twice.