GATESHEAD MAN LEWIS ARMSTRONG JAILED FOR ASSAULTS AND CRIMINAL DAMAGE
A vulnerable elderly couple were left petrified in their home after it came under attack when they provided refuge for their pregnant neighbour as she tried to hide from her violent partner.The woman had been in a "troubled" relationship with Lewis Armstrong for around nine months, during which she said he would often accuse her of infidelity.
In February, when she was ten weeks pregnant, they had an argument and, fearing he would turn up at her flat, she asked her elderly and disabled neighbours if she could stay at their flat, turning up in a distressed state.
A court heard the man has brittle bone disease and uses a walking stick while his wife has mobility issues and uses a wheelchair.
Later on, Armstrong turned up at their flat shouting for his partner to come outside, banging on the door repeatedly.
He then threw a rock or stone through the living room window, smashing the glass.
The projectile hit the man in the ribs, causing him significant pain and glass shards sprayed around the living room.
He went to a walk-in centre, where he was told his ribs were bruised but not broken.
The following day, Armstrong's then-partner returned to her flat but awoke to find Armstrong on top of her, hitting her.
She screamed and he left and the woman fled to her neighbours' flat again.
Later on, Armstrong, of Heddon View, Winlaton, turned up at their home again and let himself in.
The male victim told him to leave but Armstrong shouted at them and demanded his partner come out.
He then said: "I'm going to come back and kill you and smash more windows." He did go back later that night and tried to go in again but the door was locked.
After shouting for his partner to go out, he smashed a glass panel in a side door, a large kitchen window and a bedroom window.
The man said he was "going mental, shouting and swearing" and seemed desperate to get to his partner.
Police were called and the couple's windows were boarded up.
They remained boarded up for three weeks until they were repaired.
The man said he and his wife were left "petrified" in their own home.
His wife said she was "frightened for her safety", adding: "What he did to (his partner) and our house is totally unacceptable.
He should have to pay for all our windows and be put away for a long time." His former partner said: "Lewis has turned my life upside down.
I tried to help him with his drug addiction but all he did in return was abuse and assault me." "The neighbours didn't deserve this either, they are elderly and she's disabled.
They tried to help me and keep me safe and he destroyed their home and assaulted (the man)."
